Adjustable temperature compensating package for optical fiber devices
AssigneeAvanex Corporation
InventorJacques Albert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assembly for providing thermal compensation to a fiber optical device is described. The optical fiber device is secured in a support structure made of a material having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion. The securing means located at on end of the support structure is made of a material having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion. The securing means is also adjustable lengthwise so as to provide longitudinal adjustment to the tension on the optical fiber device. By selecting the appropriate materials and dimensions the assembly can exactly compensate for the thermal dependency of the optical device with an overall length much smaller than assemblies based on materials with dissimilar positive CTEs.
Claims18
A temperature compensating package for an optical fiber device comprising:
- a support structure of a material having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE);
- and securing means located in the support structure for securing opposed ends of an optical fiber device passing therethrough, at least one of said securing means being of a material having a positive CTE and adjustable lengthwise.
A method of providing thermal compensation to an optical fiber device comprising:
- providing a support structure for said optical fiber device, said support structure being of a material having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion and having securing means at each end, at least one of said securing means being of a material having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion and adjustable lengthwise;
- adjusting said at least one securing means to establish a base thermal compensation value;
- and
- securing said optical fiber device to said securing means within said support structure.
A fiber optical device assembly with associated thermal compensation comprising:
- an optical fiber having a fiber optical device therein;
- a support structure of a material having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion through which said optical fiber extends;
- securing means in each end of said support structure, said securing means securing said optical fiber on opposite ends of said optical fiber device, at least one of said securing means being of a material having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion and being adjustable longitudinally of said optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.