Active optical alignment of laser diode array for drilling precising holes

• US 20040223698A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Rose, James Wilson, Sherman, Donna Marie, Lester, Donald Leroy
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4225 by a direct measurement of the degree of coupling, e.g. the amount of light power coupled to the fibre or the opto-electronic element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4227 Active alignment methods, e.g. procedures and algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures

Abstract

Active optical alignment of plastic chip-scale-package (450) laser and photo detecting diode devices (420) is provided by use of an active probe (120) to make alignment structures (300), such as précising holes, that are used to align the optical device (420) into a transmit/receive module. An optical connector (140), such as an optical fiber, transmits light to, or receives light from, the optical device (420). Using an electrical contact (115, 120), laser diode devices are lighted or photo detecting diode devices are electrically interfaced. The optical connector (140) steps to, locates and contacts each optical device on a fabricated frame of multiple devices. The optical connector (140) is manipulated to an optimal coupling position where the best signal, either optical or electrical, is obtained. An optimal position for making the précising holes, e.g., using a machining laser, is determined as an offset from the optimal position of the optical connector.

Claims

1. A method for determining an optimal position for at least one alignment structure for packaging in which a light-emitting optical device is positioned, comprising:

electrically energizing the light-emitting optical device to cause the optical device to emit light;

obtaining a plurality of different readings of the emitted light using an optical connector that is positioned at a corresponding plurality of different positions within the emitted light;

determining an optimal position of the optical connector with respect to the light-emitting optical device according to the different readings; and

determining the optimal position for the at least one alignment structure according to the optimal position of the optical connector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the different positions at which the optical connector is positioned are determined according to a predetermined pattern.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the light-emitting optical device comprises at least one laser diode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the light-emitting optical device is electrically energized at least at a lasing threshold.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the light-emitting optical device is electrically energized below a lasing threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the light-emitting optical device comprises at least one array comprising a plurality of individual laser diodes, and the different readings are obtained for emitted light from at least two of the individual laser diodes.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the at least one alignment structure using a machining laser.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the optimal position for the at least one alignment structure is determined based on an offset from the optimal position of the optical connector.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an initial position for positioning the optical connector in the emitted light using a machine vision system.

10. A method for determining an optimal position for at least one alignment structure for packaging in which a photo detecting optical device is positioned, comprising:

optically energizing the photo detecting optical device using an optical connector that is positioned at a plurality of different positions with respect to the photo detecting optical device to cause the photo detecting optical device to produce a corresponding plurality of electric outputs;

obtaining a plurality of different readings of the electric outputs;

determining an optimal position of the optical connector with respect to the photo detecting optical device according to the different readings; and

determining the optimal position for the at least one alignment structure according to the optimal position of the optical connector.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the different positions at which the optical connector is positioned are determined according to a predetermined pattern.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining an initial position for positioning the optical connector with respect to the photo detecting optical device using a machine vision system.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the photo detecting optical device comprises at least one photo detecting diode.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the photo detecting optical device comprises at least one array comprising a plurality of individual photo detectors, and the different readings are obtained for electric outputs from at least two of the individual photo detectors.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing the at least one alignment structure using a machining laser.

16. An apparatus for determining an optimal position for at least one alignment structure for packaging in which a light-emitting optical device is positioned, comprising:

means for electrically energizing the light-emitting optical device to cause the optical device to emit light;

means for obtaining a plurality of different readings of the light using an optical connector that is positioned at a corresponding plurality of different positions within the emitted light;

means for determining an optimal position of the optical connector with respect to the light-emitting optical device according to the different readings; and

means for determining the optimal position for the at least one alignment structure according to the optimal position of the optical connector.

17. An apparatus for determining an optimal position for at least one alignment structure for packaging in which a photo detecting optical device is positioned, comprising:

an optical connector for optically energizing the photo detecting optical device that is positioned at a plurality of different positions with respect to the photo detecting optical device to cause the photo detecting optical device to produce a corresponding plurality of electric outputs;

means for obtaining a plurality of different readings of the electric outputs;

means for determining an optimal position of the optical connector with respect to the photo detecting optical device according to the different readings; and

means for determining the optimal position for the at least one alignment structure according to the optimal position of the optical connector.