Method for forming an aligned optical sub-assembly
First Claim
1. A method for aligning optical components in order to form an aligned optical sub-assembly, comprising:
- (a) positioning a first optical component with respect to a first optical bench having an upper surface;
(b) positioning a bench-joining optical component relative to the upper surface of the first optical bench;
(c) after steps (a) and (b), providing aligned optical components by moving at least one of the bench-joining optical component and the first optical bench until the first optical component and the bench-joining optical component are optically aligned;
(d) after step (c), and while said aligned components remain in an aligned position, permanently securing at least one of the first and bench-joining optical components to the first optical bench;
(e) permanently securing a third optical component to a second optical bench having an upper surface;
(f) after steps (d) and (e), and after the first and bench-joining optical components are permanently secured to the first optical bench, positioning the bench-joining optical component relative to the upper surface of the second optical bench;
(g) after step (f), providing an aligned optical sub-assembly by moving at least one of the bench-joining optical component and the second optical bench until the bench-joining optical component and the third optical component are optically aligned; and
(h) after step (g), permanently securing the bench-joining optical component to the second optical bench.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bench-joining optical component and a first optical component are aligned on a first optical bench, and then rigidly coupled to the first bench, in order to form a first portion of an optical subassembly. Following completion of the first portion, all components in the first portion are pre-aligned and fixed with respect to each other, moving as a unit. A third optical component is aligned and permanently coupled to a second optical bench, in order to form a second portion of the optical sub-assembly. The first and second portions of optical sub-assembly are combined by positioning an exposed side of the bench joining optical component on the second bench, aligning the bench-joining optical component with the third optical component on the second bench, and permanently securing the bench-joining optical component to the second bench.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method for aligning optical components in order to form an aligned optical sub-assembly, comprising:
-
(a) positioning a first optical component with respect to a first optical bench having an upper surface;
(b) positioning a bench-joining optical component relative to the upper surface of the first optical bench;
(c) after steps (a) and (b), providing aligned optical components by moving at least one of the bench-joining optical component and the first optical bench until the first optical component and the bench-joining optical component are optically aligned;
(d) after step (c), and while said aligned components remain in an aligned position, permanently securing at least one of the first and bench-joining optical components to the first optical bench;
(e) permanently securing a third optical component to a second optical bench having an upper surface;
(f) after steps (d) and (e), and after the first and bench-joining optical components are permanently secured to the first optical bench, positioning the bench-joining optical component relative to the upper surface of the second optical bench;
(g) after step (f), providing an aligned optical sub-assembly by moving at least one of the bench-joining optical component and the second optical bench until the bench-joining optical component and the third optical component are optically aligned; and
(h) after step (g), permanently securing the bench-joining optical component to the second optical bench. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification