# US 9,435,966 B2 · Lens device attachment to printed circuit board > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,966 B2 - Document ID: US9435966B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/714,672 - Filed: 2015-05-18 - Published: 2015-09-10 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-28 - Assignees: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: David J. K. Meadowcroft; Paul Yu - Inventors: David J. K. Meadowcroft; Paul Yu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435966B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/4244: {Mounting of the optical elements} - G02B 6/12004: {Combinations of two or more optical elements} - G02B 6/4214: {the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4226: {Positioning means for moving the elements into alignment, e.g. alignment screws, deformation of the mount} - G02B 6/4237: {Welding} - G02B 6/4257: {having a supporting carrier or a mounting substrate or a mounting plate (G02B6/3648 takes precedence)} - H05K 1/0269: {for visual or optical inspection} - H05K 1/0274: {Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means (H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42)} - H05K 3/303: with surface mounted components (H05K3/32 takes precedence) - H05K 2201/09918: Optically detected marks used for aligning tool relative to the PCB, e.g. for mounting of components - H05K 2201/10121: Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component - H05K 2203/1305: Moulding and encapsulation - H05K 2203/1327: Moulding over PCB locally or completely - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - Y10T 29/4913: Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc. - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An optical assembly can be formed by providing a frame made of a plastic material on a surface of a printed circuit board (PCB), mounting at least one opto-electronic element on the surface of the PCB within the frame, and laser-welding a lens device onto the frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB); a frame made of a plastic material disposed on a surface of the PCB, the frame having a generally planar shape, an interior region, and a continuous perimeter with a flat surface extending in a plane around the interior region; at least one opto-electronic device mounted on the surface of the PCB within the interior region of the frame; and a lens device made of a plastic material, the lens device having a body portion and a fiber port portion, the fiber port portion being adapted to couple with an end of an optical fiber, the body portion being fused to the frame in alignment with the opto-electronic device, the body portion having an optics system disposed therein for coupling light between the end of the optical fiber and the opto-electronic device, the optic system comprising a reflector and a lens, a weld seam existing between the flat surface of the frame and a flat base of the body portion where the plastic material of the flat base of the body portion and the plastic material of the frame are fused together, the flat base of the body portion of the lens device contacting the flat surface of the frame, wherein contact between the flat base of the body portion of the lens device and the flat surface of the frame does not restrict planar movement of the lens device with respect to the frame absent the weld seam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is mounted to the surface of the PCB. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is overmolded on the surface of the PCB. ### Claim 4 The optical assembly of claim wherein the reflector defines a first optical path extending between the opto-electronic device and the reflector, and a second optical path extending between the reflector and the fiber port, the fiber port having an optical axis parallel to the surface of the PCB. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein: a portion of the lens device extending from an exterior surface of the lens device to the flat base portion of the lens device is substantially transparent to laser-welding radiation; and the flat surface of the frame is substantially opaque to laser-welding radiation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame has one or more bosses extending through the PCB and heat-staked to retain the frame against the surface of the PCB. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the weld seam comprises a continuous weld following the perimeter of the frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The optical assembly of claim 7, wherein the weld seam further comprises a plurality of spot welds formed prior the continuous weld following the perimeter of the frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface of the PCB has one or more optically detectable points of reference and the location of the opto-electronic device on the surface of the PCB is determined by one or more of the optically detectable points of reference. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The optical assembly of claim 9, wherein the alignment of the lens device with the opto-electronic device is determined by one or more of the optically detectable points of reference. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The optical assembly of claim 9, wherein the one or more optically detectable points of reference comprise one or more fiducials on the PCB. ### Claim 12 An optical assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB having a surface containing one or more optically detectable points of reference; a frame disposed on the surface of the PCB, the frame having a generally planar shape, an interior region, and a continuous perimeter with a flat surface extending in a plane around the interior region; at least one opto-electronic device mounted on the surface of the PCB within the interior region of the frame, the location of the opto-electronic device on the surface of the PCB being based on alignment of the opto-electronic device with said one or more optically detectable points of reference; and a lens device attached to the frame in alignment with the opto-electronic device, the alignment of the lens device with the opto-electronic device being based on alignment of the lens device with said one or more of the optically detectable points of reference, wherein, the lens device contains at least one optical element for optically coupling an optical fiber to the opto-electronic device, a weld between the flat surface of the frame and a flat base portion of the lens device fuses the lens device and frame together after the lens device is in alignment such that the flat base portion of the lens device contacts the flat surface of the frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The optical assembly of claim 12, wherein said one or more optically detectable points of reference comprise one or more fiducials on the PCB. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The optical assembly of claim 12, wherein the lens device comprises a reflector, a lens, and a fiber port adapted to receive an end of an optical fiber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The optical assembly of claim 14, wherein the reflector defines a first optical path extending between the opto-electronic device and the reflector, and a second optical path extending between the reflector and the fiber port, the fiber port having an optical axis parallel to the surface of the PCB. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The optical assembly of claim 12, wherein: a portion of the lens device extending from an exterior surface of the lens device to the flat base portion of the lens device is substantially transparent to laser-welding radiation; the flat surface of the frame is substantially opaque to laser-welding radiation; and the weld is disposed between the flat base portion of the lens device and the flat surface of the frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The optical assembly of claim 12, wherein the frame has one or more bosses extending through the PCB and heat-staked to retain the frame against the surface of the PCB. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The optical assembly of claim 12, wherein the weld comprises a continuous weld following the perimeter of the frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The optical assembly of claim 18, wherein the weld further comprises a plurality of spot welds formed prior the continuous weld following the perimeter of the frame. ### Claim 20 An optical assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB), a surface of the PCB having one or more optically detectable points of reference; a frame made of a plastic material disposed on a surface of the PCB, the frame having a generally planar shape, an interior region, and a continuous perimeter with a flat surface extending in a plane around the interior region; at least one opto-electronic device mounted on the surface of the PCB within the interior region of the frame, the location of the opto-electronic device on the surface of the PCB being determined by one or more of the optically detectable points of reference; and a lens device made of a plastic material, the lens device having a body portion and a fiber port portion, the fiber port portion being adapted to couple with an end of an optical fiber, the body portion being fused to the frame in alignment with the opto-electronic device, the body portion having an optics system disposed therein for coupling light between the end of the optical fiber and the opto-electronic device, a weld seam existing between the flat surface of the frame and a flat base of the body portion where the plastic material of the flat base of the body portion and the plastic material of the frame are fused together, the flat base of the body portion of the lens device contacting the flat surface of the frame, wherein contact between the flat base of the body portion of the lens device and the flat surface of the frame does not restrict planar movement of the lens device with respect to the frame absent the weld seam.