Patent US5179609A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5179609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical assembly including fiber attachment
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1991-08-30
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2011-08-30
Abstract
Abstract An optical assembly is disclosed which utilizes a pair of separate members to support an optical device and an associated optical fiber. Fiducial features, in conjunction with an optical device conductive attachment means, are utilized to provide self-alignment between the device and the fiber. Aligned fiducials are formed on each member such that when the members are physically joined, alignment between the optical device and fiber is achieved. In particular, the members are mated such that a direct optical signal path between the device and fiber is formed.
Inventors
- 👤 Greg E. Blonder
- 👤 Mindaugas F. Dautartas
- 👤 Yiu-Huen Wong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:41
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: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An optical assembly comprising a first member including top and bottom major surfaces for the mounting of at least one active optical device on said top major surface thereof, said first member comprising a first set of fiducial features formed on said top major surface and including electrically conductive bonding means for the attachment of said active optical device, said electrically conductive bonding means disposed on said top major surface at a predetermined location with respect to said first set of fiducial features; and a second member including top and bottom major surfaces for the support of at least one optical fiber, said second member including at least one longitudinal groove formed along said top major surface thereof for the placement of said at least one optical fiber, the second member further comprising a second set of fiducial features exposed in a surface orthogonal to said top 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 and provide fixed attachment of said first member to said second member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
An optical assembly comprising a first member including top and bottom major surfaces for the mounting of at least one active optical device on said top major surface thereof, said first member comprising a first set of fiducial features formed on said top major surface and including electrically conductive bonding means for the attachment of said active optical device, said electrically conductive bonding means disposed on said top major surface at a predetermined location with respect to said first set of fiducial features; and a second member including top and bottom major surfaces for the support of at least one optical fiber, said second member including at least one longitudinal groove formed along said top major surface thereof for the placement of said at least one optical fiber, the second member further comprising a second set of fiducial features exposed in a surface orthogonal to said top 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 and provide fixed attachment of said first member to said second member.
Claim 3
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 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second members comprise a semiconductor material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the first and second members comprise silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second members comprise a plastic material .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive bonding means comprises a solder preform.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the solder preform is capable of being liquified when heated such that an optical device placed on the surface thereof will align to said preform upon heating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the solder preform comprises a tin-gold combination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the first and second members comprise silicon, wherein the fiducial openings comprise features etched into the silicon surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second fiducial features comprise 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 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the assembly further comprises a third member 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 to facilitate the alignment and attachment therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein the plurality of fiducial features comprises 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 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one active optical device comprises an LED.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one active optical device comprises a photodiode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein the first member further includes electronic circuitry, disposed along the top surface thereof, associated with the operation of the active optical device.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of forming an optical assembly comprising the steps of: a) providing first and second separate support members, each including a top major surface and sidewalls orthogonal thereto; b) forming fiducial alignment features on the top major surface of said first support member and on a sidewall of said second support member; c) forming electrically conductive bonding means 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 along the top major surface of said second support member for the placement of an optical fiber, the longitudinal groove disposed to provide alignment between an active optical device and an optical fiber; and e) fixing 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.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of forming an optical assembly comprising the steps of: a) providing first and second separate support members, each including a top major surface and sidewalls orthogonal thereto; b) forming fiducial alignment features on the top major surface of said first support member and on a sidewall of said second support member; c) forming electrically conductive bonding means 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 along the top major surface of said second support member for the placement of an optical fiber, the longitudinal groove disposed to provide alignment between an active optical device and an optical fiber; and e) fixing 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.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 18 wherein in performing step a), semiconductor substrate support members are provided.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein the provided support members comprise silicon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein in performing steps b) and d), etching is used to form fiducial alignment features and the longitudinal groove.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 21 wherein in performing step e), spheres are inserted between and attached to the etched fiducial alignment features to achieve attachment of the first support member to the second support member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 18 wherein in performing step a), plastic substrate support members are provided.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 18 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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |