Patent EP0529947A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.

EP0529947A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical assembly including fiber attachment

Assignee: AT&T Inc

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Filing: 1992-08-20

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Granted: —

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Expires: 2012-08-20

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Abstract

Abstract An optical assembly (10) is disclosed which utilizes a pair of separate members (12,30) to support an optical device (14) and an associated optical fiber (32). Header (12) further comprises a pair of fiducial features (20) and (22) located, in this particular example, on either side of electrically conductive bonding means (24). Conductive means (24) may comprise a solder preform, an electroplated layer of conductive material, a deposited layer of conductive material, or any other suitable arrangement capable of providing physical and electrical attachment of device (14) to header (12). The remaining electrical contact to device (14) may be provided by a wirebond (not shown) between electrical contact pad (16) and the top side of device (14). Alternatively, if both contacts are located on the same side of device (14), a pair of (electrically isolated) conductive means may be utilized. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, fiducials (20,22) are utilized to provide alignment between optical device (14) and an associated optical fiber. In particular, member (12) is processed to locate fiducials (10,22) as well as conductive means (24), with sufficient certainty such that self-alignment between the device and fiber is achieved. Fiducials (20,22) may comprise a pair of pyramidal openings formed in top surface (26) of header (12). If header (12) comprises a semiconductor material such as silicon, fiducials (20,22) may be formed by etching top surface (26) of member (12). Optical assembly (10) further comprises a second member (30), also referred to a base, for supporting an oprical fibre (32) within a groove (34). Groove (34) may include a first enlarged portion (36) for supporting a plastic-coated optical fiber, and a second, narrowed portion (38) for supporting a stripped, bare glass fiber section. Base (30) further comprises a pair of fiducials (40,42) formed on surface (39) of base (30) and intercepting an orthogonal sidewall (44). As indicated by the arrows, header (12) and base (30) are moved toward each other such that fiducials (20,22) align with fiducials (40,42) resulting in the optical alignment between device (14) and fiber (32). A coupling lens (50) may also be disposed in an opening (52) formed in sidewall (44) of base (30). Lens (50) is utilized to improve the coupling efficiency between optical device (14) and optical fiber (32). Alternatively, a lensed optical device and/or lensed optical fiber may be used to increase the coupling efficiency. Mechanical attachement of header (12) and base (30) is accomplished by utilizing a pair of spherical members (46,48) positioned within the pair of cavities created by the aligned fiducials.

Inventors

👤 Greg. E. Blonder
👤 Mindaugas Fernand Dautartas
👤 Yiu-Huen Wong

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction EP

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 19:49

CPC Classifications

G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/32; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4219; G02B6/422; G02B6/4221; G02B6/4224; G02B6/4228; G02B6/423; G02B6/4231; G02B6/4249; H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/851; H10W72/874; H10W72/884

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10

Claim 1

Independent Claim 158 words

An optical assembly (10) comprising a first member ( 12) for the mounting of at least one active optical device (14) on a surface thereof, said first member comprising a first set of fiducial features (20,22) and including electrically conductive bonding means (24) for the attachment of said active optical device, said electrically conductive bonding means disposed in a predetermined location with respect to said first set of fiducial features; and a second member (30) for the support of at least one optical fiber (32), said second member including at least one longitudinal groove (34) formed along a major surface thereof for the placement of said at least one optical fiber, the second member further comprising a second set of fiducial features (40,42) exposed in a surface (44) orthogonal to said major surface, said second set of fiducial features located so as to align with the location of the first set of fiducial features of said first member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 36 words

An optical assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first member is capable of mounting a plurality of active optical devices and the second member is capable of supporting an associated plurality of optical fibers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

An optical assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second members comprise a semiconductor material, such as comprising silicon, or comprise a plastic material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 52 words

An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive bonding means comprises a solder preform, such as is capable of being liquifed when heated such that an optical device placed on the surface thereof will align to said preform upon heating, the solder preform optionally comprising a tin-gold combination.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 131 words

An optical assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second fiducial features comprise a set of openings formed in the associated surfaces of the first and second members, respectively, the fiducial features further comprising a plurality of spherical members disposed between associated openings so as to provide mechanical mating of the first and second members, the first and second members optionally comprising silicon, and wherein the fiducial openings comprise features etched into the silicon surface, the first and second fiducial features also optionally comprising a set of grooves and ridges, a set of grooves formed on either one of the first and second member and the ridges formed on the remaining member, the grooves and ridges disposed to provide alignment between the first and second members upon mating.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 97 words

An optical assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises a third member (60) disposed to cover the major surface of the second member supporting the optical fiber, the second and third members formed to include a plurality of fiducial features (62,64,66,68) to facilitate the alignment and attachment therebetween, the plurality of fiducial features optionally comprising a first plurality of openings formed in the top major surface of the second member and an associated plurality of openings formed in the attaching surface of the third member, with a plurality of spherical members disposed therebetween.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 61 words

An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first member further includes a pair of electrical lead pads attached to the surface of the member to provide an electrical signal path to the active optical device, the first member optionally further including electronic circuitry, disposed along the top surface thereof, associated with the operation of the active optical device.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 191 words

A method of forming an optical assembly comprising the steps of: a) providing first (12) and second (30) separate support members, each including a top major surface and sidewalls orthogonal thereto; b) forming fiducial alignment features (20,22,40,42) on the top major surface (26) of said first support member and on a sidewall (44) of said second support member, c) forming electrically conductive bonding means (24) on said top major surface of said first member at a predetermined location with respect to said associated fiducial alignment features; d) forming a longitudinal groove (34) along the top major surface (39) of said second support member for the placement of an optical fiber (32), the longitudinal groove disposed to provide alignment between the active optical device and an optical fiber, and e) attaching said first support member to said second support member by aligning and attaching the fiducial alignment features of said first member to the fiducial alignment features of said second member, wherein in performing step a), semiconductor substrate support members are optionally provided, said support members optionally comprising silicon, and wherein in performing step a), plastic substrate support members are optionally provided.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method according to claim 8, wherein in performing steps b) and d), etching is used to form fiducial alignment features and the longitudinal groove, and wherein in performing step e), spheres are optionally inserted between and attached to the etched openings to achieve attachment of the first support member to the second support member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method according to claim 8 wherein the method comprises the further steps of: f) placing an active optical device on the conductive bonding means of step c); and g) heating the conductive bonding means to liquify and allow said active optical device to align with the underlying conductive bonding means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

EP0331331A2 Cited

EP0331334A2 Cited

EP0331338A2 Cited

EP0413489A2 Cited

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