Submount and connector assembly for active fiber needle

Claim 2

A connector assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical optical fiber having a first end and a second end, with an optic axis disposed along the center of said optical fiber between said ends; a metallic surface of a prescribed thickness disposed circumferentially about said optical fiber; a first face at said first end and a second face at said second end, said ends being substantially orthogonal to said optic axis; an optoelectronic device directly bonded to said first face, whereby light impingent on or transmitted from said device is propagated through said optical fiber; a cup-shaped housing having an open end and a closed end with sidewalls therebetween, said cup-shaped housing being disposed over the first end of said optical fiber for hermetically enclosing said optoelectronic device and the first end of the optical fiber, said housing being hermetically sealed to the metallic surface disposed circumferentially about said optical fiber; and electrical lead means connected to said optoelectronic device and extending through said housing for facilitating connection to an external device.

Claim 3

A connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical lead means comprises a spring metal strip disposed in said housing in opposing relationship to electrical terminals of said optoelectronic device on said first face, said spring metal strip having a bowed portion resiliently soldered to electrical terminals of said optoelectronic device to make electrical contact therewith, said spring metal strip having at least one leg portion extending from said bowed portion through said housing to facilitate connection to an external device.

Claim 4

A connector assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said cup-shaped housing includes a tubular sleeve defining said sidewalls and said open end, and an end cap forming said closed end, said at least one leg of said spring metal strip extending through said housing between said first portion and said end cap, said end cap being hermetically sealed to said tubular portion.

Claim 5

A connector assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said tubular sleeve is formed of heat conductive and electrically insulating material to thereby provide a heat sink for said optoelectronic device connected through said spring metal strip to said optoelectronic device.

Claim 6

A connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said material is ceramic.

Claim 7

A connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cup-shaped housing is formed of heat conductive, electrically insulating material to thereby provide a heat sink for said optoelectronic device connected through said electrical lead means to said optoelectronic device.

Claim 8

A connector assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said material is ceramic.

Claim 9

A connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical lead means comprises a wire bond connected at a first end thereof to said optoelectronic device and at a second end to a metallized coating on an exterior surface of said cup-shaped housing.

Claim 10

A connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cup-shaped housing comprises: a tubular sleeve forming said sidewalls and having a first distal end disposed adjacent to said optoelectronic device, and a second distal end hermetically sealed to the metallic circumferential surface of the optical fiber; said electrical lead means including a first substantially continuous metallic coating on an end face of said first distal end and a contiguous external surface of the tubular sleeve, and a wire bond connecting the optoelectronic device to said first metallic coating; a second substantially continuous metallic coating on an end face of said second distal end and a contiguous external surface of the tubular sleeve; said second metallic coating being connected to the metallic circumferential surface of the optical fiber; and an end cap defining the closed end of the cup-shaped housing secured to said first metallic coating.

Claim 11

A connector assembly as recited in claim 9 further comprising a pair of electrical leads secured to said first metallic coating.

Claim 12

A connector assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said tubular sleeve is formed of a heat conductive, electrically insulating material.

Claim 13

A connector assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a ceramic material and the end cap a metal or ceramic material.

Claim 14

A connector assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said tubular sleeve is formed of a heat conductive, electrically insulating material.

Claim 15

A connector assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a ceramic material and the end cap a metal or ceramic material.

Claim 16

A connector assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said end cap is an amorphous mass of thermally conductive and electrically insulative material encapsulating the optoelectronic device and the wire bond, and is bonded to said first metallized coating.

Claim 17

A connector assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said tubular sleeve comprises a ceramic material.

Claim 18

A connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said cup-shaped housing comprises: a metallic tubular sleeve forming said sidewalls and open end, having a first distal end disposed adjacent to said optoelectronic device, and a second distal end hermetically sealed to the metallic circumferential surface of the optical fiber; an annular spacer of heat conductive, electrically insulating material secured to an end face of said first distal end; said electrical lead means including a ring-shaped metallic spacer secured to the heat conductive, electrically insulating spacer, and a wire bond connecting the optoelectronic device to said annular metallic spacer; and an end cap defining the closed end of the cup-shaped housing secured to said ring-shaped metallic spacer.

Claim 19

The connector assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein said annular spacer of heat conductive, electrically insulating material is glass.

Claim 20

The connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said optical fiber comprises a fiber needle having a first contact and a second contact and the electrical lead means of the cup-shaped housing is electrically connected to said first contact.

Claim 21

A mount for an optoelectronic device for use in connecting the optoelectronic device to one end of a metal coated optical fiber, comprising: a cup-shaped housing having an open end and a closed end with sidewalls therebetween, said cup-shaped housing having a cavity for accommodating a first end of said optical fiber for hermetically enclosing said optoelectronic device and the first end of said fiber; a spring metal strip disposed in said housing in opposing relationship to electrical terminals of said optoelectronic device, said metal strip having a bowed portion secured to electrical terminals of said optoelectronic device to make electrical contact therewith, said spring metal strip having at least one leg portion extending through said housing to facilitate connection to an external device.

Claim 22

A mount for an optoelectronic device for use in connecting the optoelectronic device to one end of a metal coated optical fiber, comprising: a cup-shaped housing having an open end and a closed end with sidewalls therebetween, said cup-shaped housing having a cavity for accommodating a first end of said optical fiber for hermetically enclosing said optoelectronic device and the first end of said fiber; a spring metal strip disposed in said housing in opposing relationship to electrical terminals of said optoelectronic device, said metal strip having a bowed portion secured to electrical terminals of said optoelectronic device to make electrical contact therewith, said spring metal strip having at least one leg portion extending through said housing to facilitate connection to an external device.

Claim 23

A mount as recited in claim 20 wherein said optical fiber is a fiber needle including a first contact and second contract, and said cup-shaped housing is electrically connectable to said first contact.

Claim 24

A mount as recited in claim 20 wherein said cup-shaped housing includes a tubular sleeve defining said sidewalls and said open end, and a end cap forming said closed end, said at least one leg of said spring metal strip extending through said housing between said first portion and said end cap, said end cap being hermetically sealed to said tubular portion.

Claim 25

A mount as recited in claim 22 wherein said tubular sleeve is formed of heat conductive and electrically insulating material to thereby provide a heat sink for said optoelectronic device connected through said spring metal strip to said optoelectronic device.

Claim 26

A mount as recited in claim 23 wherein said material is ceramic.

Claim 27

A mount as recited in claim 20 wherein said cup-shaped housing is formed of heat conductive, electrically insulating material to thereby provide a heat sink for said optoelectronic device connected through said electrical lead means to said optoelectronic device.

Claim 28

A mount as recited in claim 25 wherein said material is ceramic.

Claim 29

A mount as recited in claim 20 wherein said electrical lead means comprises a wire bond connected at a first end thereof to said optoelectronic device and at a second end to a metallized coating that wraps around from the interior to the exterior surface of said cup-shaped housing.

Claim 30

A mount as recited in claim 20 wherein said cup-shaped housing comprises: a tubular sleeve forming said sidewalls and having a first distal end disposed adjacent to said optoelectronic device, and a second distal end hermetically sealed to the metallic coating of the optical fiber; said electrical lead means including a first substantially continuous metallic coating on an end face of said first distal end and a contiguous external surface of the tubular sleeve, and a wire bond connecting the optoelectronic device to said first metallic coating; a second substantially continuous metallic coating on an end face of said second distal end and a contiguous external surface of the tubular sleeve; said second metallic coating being connected to the metallic circumferential surface of the optical fiber; and an end cap defining the closed end of the cup-shaped housing secured to said first metallic coating.

Claim 31

A mount as recited in claim 28 further comprising a pair of electrical leads secured to said first metallic coating.

Claim 32

A mount as recited in claim 29 wherein said tubular sleeve is formed of a heat conductive, electrically insulating material.

Claim 33

A mount as recited in claim 30 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a ceramic material and the end cap metal or ceramic material.

Claim 34

A mount as recited in claim 28 wherein said tubular sleeve is formed of a heat conductive, electrically insulating material.

Claim 35

A mount as recited in claim 32 wherein the tubular sleeve comprises a ceramic material and the end cap metal or ceramic material.

Claim 36

A mount as recited in claim 28 wherein said end cap is an amorphous mass of thermally and electrically conductive material encapsulating the optoelectronic device and the wire bond, and is bonded to said first metallized coating.

Claim 37

A mount as recited in claim 34 wherein said tubular sleeve comprises a ceramic material.

Claim 38

A connector assembly as recited in claim 20 wherein said cup-shaped housing comprises: a metallic tubular sleeve forming said sidewalls and open end, having a first distal end disposed adjacent to said optoelectronic device, and a second distal end hermetically sealed to the metallic circumferential surface of the optical fiber; an annular spacer of heat conductive, electrically insulating material secured to fan end face of said first distal end; said electrical lead means including a ring-shaped metallic spacer secured to the heat conductive, electrically insulating spacer, and a wire bond connecting the optoelectronic device to said ring-shaped metallic spacer; and an end cap defining the closed end of the cup-shaped housing secured to said annular metallic spacer.

Claim 39

A mount as recited in claim 20 further including heat dissipation means for providing a heat conductive path between the optoelectronic device and the metal coating on the optical fiber.

Claim 40

A connector assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical optical fiber having a first end and a second end, with an optic axis disposed along the center of said optical fiber between said ends; a metallic surface of a prescribed thickness disposed circumferentially about said optical fiber; a first face at said first end and a second face at said second end substantially orthogonal to said optic axis; a passive optical device bonded to said first face, whereby light impingent on or transmitted from said device is propagated through said optical fiber; a cup-shaped housing having an open end and a closed end with sidewalls therebetween, said cup-shaped housing being disposed over the first end of said optical fiber for hermetically enclosing an optoelectronic device and the first end of the optical fiber, said housing being hermetically sealed to the metallic surface disposed circumferentially about said optical fiber and said optoelectronic device secured to an endcap secured to a distal end of the cup-shaped housing and optically aligned with said passive optical device and said optical fiber; and electrical lead means connected to said optoelectronic device and extending through said housing for facilitating connection to an external device.

Claim 41

A connector assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical optical fiber having a first end and a second end, with an optic axis disposed along the center of said optical fiber between said ends; a metallic surface of a prescribed thickness disposed circumferentially about said optical fiber; a first face at said first end and a second face at said second end substantially orthogonal to said optic axis; a passive optical device bonded to said first face, whereby light impingent on or transmitted from said device is propagated through said optical fiber; a cup-shaped housing having an open end and a closed end with sidewalls therebetween, said cup-shaped housing being disposed over the first end of said optical fiber for hermetically enclosing an optoelectronic device and the first end of the optical fiber, said housing being hermetically sealed to the metallic surface disposed circumferentially about said optical fiber and said optoelectronic device secured to an endcap secured to a distal end of the cup-shaped housing and optically aligned with said passive optical device and said optical fiber; and electrical lead means connected to said optoelectronic device and extending through said housing for facilitating connection to an external device.

Claim 42

A connector assembly as recited in claim 38, wherein said passive optical device is a spherical lens.