Passive alignment using elastic averaging in optoelectronics applications
AssigneeAvago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsRobert H. Yi, Brenton A. Baugh, James H. Williams, Robert E. Wilson, Richard A. Ruh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an optoelectronic assembly in which one or more beam paths are to be aligned with a corresponding number of active optical elements, the cooperation between flexible alignment features and fixed alignment features achieves elastic averaging so as to provide the target accuracy. By averaging dimensional and positional errors over a large number of localized couplings of the flexible and fixed alignment features, elastic averaging provides the same accuracy as the more costly and complex kinematic alignment techniques.
Claims13
An optoelectronic assembly comprising:
- a coupler having first and second coupling surfaces, said first surface having a first beam port and said second surface having a second beam port, said coupler defining a beam path between said first and second beam ports;
- a substrate having an active optical element;
- and
- an elastic averaging alignment arrangement for precisely locating said second beam port of said coupler relative to said active optical element, said elastic averaging alignment arrangement including (1) an array of fixed alignment features comprising electrically inactive solder bumps on one of said coupler and said substrate and (2) a plurality of flexible alignment features on another one of said coupler and said substrate, said fixed alignment features being dedicated to achieving elastic averaging alignment by contact with said flexible alignment features, said flexible alignment features comprising one of compliant plastic, an optically clear plastic, and a polyimide, wherein said flexible alignment features are flexures having a combined configuration based upon a combined configuration of said electrically inactive solder bumps that form said array of fixed alignment features, the flexures forming spaces dimensioned such that individual elements of the array of fixed alignment features have opposing sides contacted by adjacent said flexures.
An optoelectronic assembly comprising:
- a coupler having first and second coupling surfaces, said first surface having a first beam port and said second surface having a second beam port, said coupler defining a beam path between said first and second beam ports;
- a substrate having an active optical element;
- and
- an elastic averaging alignment arrangement for precisely locating said second beam port of said coupler relative to said active optical element, said elastic averaging alignment arrangement including (1) an array of fixed alignment features on one of said coupler and said substrate and (2) a plurality of flexible alignment features on another one of said coupler and said substrate, said fixed alignment features being dedicated to achieving elastic averaging alignment by cooperation with said flexible alignment features, wherein:
- said fixed alignment features are solder bumps that are inactive with respect to conduction of signals;
- said flexible alignment features are flexures having a combined configuration based upon a combined configuration of said solder bumps that form said array of fixed alignment features, said combined configuration of flexures forming spaces dimensioned such that individual said solder bumps have opposite sides contacted by adjacent said flexures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.