Body having a dedicated lens for imaging an alignment feature

An optical subassembly comprising:

• a substrate supporting a light source having optical axis, the substrate further comprising at least one perceptible alignment feature provided in a predetermined spatial relationship to the light source;
• and
• a lens body, secured to said substrate, for focusing light from at least one light source supported on the substrate into a corresponding optical fiber, the lens body comprising:
• a body of an optically-clear moldable material comprising:
• a port for supporting at least one optical fiber, said port comprising a contact surface positioned to interface with the optical fiber when the fiber is supported in the port;
• an active lens adapted to cooperate optically with a respective light source to focus light along a respective optical path between the light source and a corresponding optical fiber;
• at least one alignment structure defining a viewing surface;
• a dedicated lens, positioned externally to any optical path between a light source and a corresponding optical fiber, adapted to focus an image of the alignment feature on the substrate onto the viewing surface.

A method for preparing an optical subassembly, the method comprising:

• providing a substrate supporting a light source having optical axis, the substrate further comprising at least one alignment feature provided in a predetermined spatial relationship to the light source;
• providing a lens body for focusing light from at least one light source supported on the substrate into a corresponding optical fiber, the lens body comprising:
• a body of an optically-clear moldable material comprising:
• a port for supporting at least one optical fiber, said port comprising a contact surface positioned to interface with the optical fiber when the fiber is supported in the port;
• an active lens adapted to cooperate optically with a respective light source to focus light along a respective optical path between the light source and a corresponding optical fiber;
• at least one alignment structure defining a viewing surface;
• a dedicated lens, positioned externally to any optical path between a light source and a corresponding optical fiber, adapted to focus an image of the alignment feature on the substrate onto the viewing surface;
• positioning the lens body on the substrate so that the substrate's alignment feature is viewable on the viewing surface of the lens body's alignment structure;
• moving the lens body relative to the substrate until the image of the substrate's alignment feature appears aligned relative to the viewing surface;
• and
• securing the lens body to the substrate.