Patent US5909523A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5909523A
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Optical module and method of fabricating optical module
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1997-03-14
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Granted: 1999-06-01
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Expires: 2017-03-14
Abstract
Abstract An optical module includes a substrate having an upper surface and a groove on the upper surface; an optical fiber having a core and an end facet, disposed in the groove of the substrate; an optical semiconductor device having an upper surface and a light interactive area on the upper surface optically coupled to the optical fiber; and a block having a side surface on which the optical semiconductor device is fixed and a lower surface perpendicular to the side surface. The optical semiconductor device is fixed onto the side surface of the block so that the distance from the light interactive area to the lower surface of the block is equal to the distance from the core of the optical fiber to the upper surface of the substrate; and the block is disposed on the substrate, with the lower surface contacting the upper surface of the substrate, so that the light interactive area is opposed to the end facet of the optical fiber. The core of the optical fiber and the light interactive area are accurately aligned with the surface of the substrate as a reference regardless of the thickness of the substrate, resulting in a high coupling efficiency between the optical fiber and the optical semiconductor device.
Inventors
- 👤 Go Sakaino
- 👤 Katsuhiko Goto
- 👤 Toshitaka Aoyagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4207; G02B6/4219; G02B6/422; G02B6/4221; G02B6/4224
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An optical module comprising: a substrate having an upper surface and a groove at the upper surface; an optical fiber having a core and an end facet, disposed in the groove of the substrate; an optical semiconductor device having an upper surface and a light interactive area on the upper surface optically coupled to the optical fiber; and a block having a side surface on which said optical semiconductor device is fixed and a lower surface perpendicular to the side surface, wherein the light interactive area is separated from the lower surface of the block by a distance equal to separation of the core of the optical fiber from the upper surface of the substrate, and the block is disposed on the substrate with the lower surface contacting the upper surface of the substrate, so that the light interactive area is opposed to the end facet of the optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An optical module comprising: a substrate having an upper surface and a groove at the upper surface; an optical fiber having a core and an end facet, disposed in the groove of the substrate; an optical semiconductor device having an upper surface and a light interactive area on the upper surface optically coupled to the optical fiber; and a block having a side surface on which said optical semiconductor device is fixed and a lower surface perpendicular to the side surface, wherein the light interactive area is separated from the lower surface of the block by a distance equal to separation of the core of the optical fiber from the upper surface of the substrate, and the block is disposed on the substrate with the lower surface contacting the upper surface of the substrate, so that the light interactive area is opposed to the end facet of the optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
The optical module of claim 1 wherein: said substrate has a second groove in the vicinity of the end fact of the optical fiber, said second groove being perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber; said block has a portion protruding from the lower surface and having a surface coplanar with the side surface; said optical semiconductor device is fixed on the protruding portion; and said block is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate so that the protruding portion is disposed in the second groove of the substrate and a surface of the protruding portion, opposite the surface on which the optical semiconductor device is fixed, contacts the substrate at a side surface of the second groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The optical module of claim 1 wherein: said substrate has an opening in the vicinity of the end facet of the optical fiber; said block has a portion protruding from the lower surface; and said block is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate so that the protruding portion of the block is disposed in the opening of the substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
The optical module of claim 1 wherein: said substrate has an opening in the vicinity of the end facet of the optical fiber; said block is rectangular in shape, and said optical semiconductor device is fixed on the side surface of the block so that a portion of the optical semiconductor device protrudes beyond the lower surface of the block; and said block is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate so that the protruding portion of the optical semiconductor device is disposed in the opening of the substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The optical module of claim 1 wherein: said substrate has an opening in the vicinity of the end facet of the optical fiber, and sloping side surfaces in the opening; said block has a portion protruding from the lower surface, and the protruding portion has side surfaces that slope at the same angle as the sloping side surfaces of the substrate in the opening; and said block is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate so that the protruding portion is disposed in the opening of the substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optical module comprising: a substrate having an upper surface; an optical waveguide having a center and an end facet, disposed on the upper surface of the substrate; an optical semiconductor device having an upper surface and a light interactive area on the upper surface optically coupled to the optical waveguide; and a block having a side surface on which said optical semiconductor device is fixed and a lower surface perpendicular to the side surface, wherein the light interactive area is separated from the lower surface of the block by a distance equal to separation of the center of the optical waveguide from the upper surface of the substrate, and the block is disposed on the substrate with the lower surface contacting the upper surface of the substrate, so that the light interactive area is opposed to the end facet of the optical waveguide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optical module comprising: a substrate having an upper surface; an optical waveguide having a center and an end facet, disposed on the upper surface of the substrate; an optical semiconductor device having an upper surface and a light interactive area on the upper surface optically coupled to the optical waveguide; and a block having a side surface on which said optical semiconductor device is fixed and a lower surface perpendicular to the side surface, wherein the light interactive area is separated from the lower surface of the block by a distance equal to separation of the center of the optical waveguide from the upper surface of the substrate, and the block is disposed on the substrate with the lower surface contacting the upper surface of the substrate, so that the light interactive area is opposed to the end facet of the optical waveguide.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of fabricating an optical module comprising: preparing a substrate having, on an upper surface, a groove for fixing an optical fiber, an optical fiber having a core, an optical semiconductor device having a light interactive area on an upper surface, and a block for fixing the optical semiconductor device; fixing the optical semiconductor device on a side surface of the block after positioning the semiconductor device in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate so that the distance from the light interactive area of the semiconductor device to the lower surface of the block is equal to the distance from the core of the optical fiber to the upper surface of the substrate when the optical fiber is disposed in the groove of the substrate; fixing the block on the upper surface of the substrate after positioning of the block so that the light interactive area of the semiconductor device is opposed to the groove in the substrate; and fixing the optical fiber in the groove of the substrate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of fabricating an optical module comprising: preparing a substrate having, on an upper surface, a groove for fixing an optical fiber, an optical fiber having a core, an optical semiconductor device having a light interactive area on an upper surface, and a block for fixing the optical semiconductor device; fixing the optical semiconductor device on a side surface of the block after positioning the semiconductor device in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate so that the distance from the light interactive area of the semiconductor device to the lower surface of the block is equal to the distance from the core of the optical fiber to the upper surface of the substrate when the optical fiber is disposed in the groove of the substrate; fixing the block on the upper surface of the substrate after positioning of the block so that the light interactive area of the semiconductor device is opposed to the groove in the substrate; and fixing the optical fiber in the groove of the substrate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of fabricating an optical module comprising: preparing a substrate having an upper surface, an optical waveguide having a center, an optical semiconductor device having a light interactive area on an upper surface, and a block for fixing the optical semiconductor device; fixing the optical semiconductor device on a side surface of the block after positioning the semiconductor device in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate so that the distance from the light interactive area of the semiconductor device to the lower surface of the block is equal to the distance from the center of the optical waveguide to the upper surface of the substrate when the optical waveguide is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate; fixing the optical waveguide on the upper surface of the substrate; and fixing the block on the upper surface of the substrate after positioning of the block so that the light interactive area of the semiconductor device is opposed to the center of the optical waveguide on the substrate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of fabricating an optical module comprising: preparing a substrate having an upper surface, an optical waveguide having a center, an optical semiconductor device having a light interactive area on an upper surface, and a block for fixing the optical semiconductor device; fixing the optical semiconductor device on a side surface of the block after positioning the semiconductor device in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate so that the distance from the light interactive area of the semiconductor device to the lower surface of the block is equal to the distance from the center of the optical waveguide to the upper surface of the substrate when the optical waveguide is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate; fixing the optical waveguide on the upper surface of the substrate; and fixing the block on the upper surface of the substrate after positioning of the block so that the light interactive area of the semiconductor device is opposed to the center of the optical waveguide on the substrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-31 | 2002-11-30 | 2003-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | 2007-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-31 | 2010-11-30 | 2011-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |