Methods for assembling an optical transceiver

• US 20050018177A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Togami, Chris, Ice, Donald A., Rosenberg, Paul K., Sasser, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,435,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/139.50
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/42 Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

Methods for assembly of optical transceivers. In one example, the method is performed in connection with an optical transceiver that includes a transmitter optical subassembly and a receiver optical subassembly, as well as structure that defines a pair of ports with which the transmitter optical subassembly and receiver optical subassembly, respectively, are to be aligned. This example of the method involves positioning the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly in a desired position relative to each other. The transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly are then fixed in the desired position. Next, the transmitter optical subassembly is aligned with one of the ports, and the receiver optical subassembly is aligned with the other port. The alignment of both the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly with their respective ports is performed in a single operation.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a portion of at least one optical transceiver that includes a transmitter optical subassembly and a receiver optical subassembly, and the at least one optical transceiver further including structure that defines a pair of ports, the method comprising:

positioning the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly in a desired position relative to each other;

fixing the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly in the desired position;

aligning the transmitter optical subassembly with one of the ports; and

aligning the receiver optical subassembly with the other port, the alignment of the receiver optical subassembly and the transmitter optical subassembly being performed in a single operation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein alignment of the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly with the respective ports is performed substantially simultaneously.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein alignment of one of the optical subassemblies results in the automatic alignment of the other optical subassembly.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein aligning the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies comprises linearly aligning the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies with respective ports.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies are positioned in a spaced-apart arrangement relative to each other.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies are fixed in substantially the same plane.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment of the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies comprises a passive alignment process.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment of the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies comprises an active alignment process.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies are aligned substantially simultaneously so as to form respective portions of a plurality of optical transceivers.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies are substantially stationary during the alignment process.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein alignment of the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies is at least partially accomplished through motion of the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least indirectly fixing the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies to the structure that defines the ports.