Device for releasable coupling of an optical fiber to an optoelectronic component

• US 4,756,591 A
• Filed: 02/06/1985
• Issued: 07/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Fischer, Karl, Spaeth, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Laroche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mottola, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US06/698,712
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.11, 350/96.15, 350/96.17, 350/96.18, 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3652 the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3692 with surface micromachining involving etching, e.g. wet or dry etching steps surface micromachining involving subtractive techniques B81C1/00055
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3838 using grooves for light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/423 using guiding surfaces for the alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4236 Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

A device for releasably coupling an optical fiber to an optoelectronic component comprises a support (3) having a V-shaped groove (2) cut into it for holding an optical fiber. The fiber terminates with its end face opposite an optoelectronic component (1) fixed on the same support (3). The optical fiber is fixed in the groove (2) by means of spring force (5) which acts on holding elements (16,17) as well as plastic layers (15) that press the fiber into the groove (2).

Claims

1. A device for the detachable coupling of an optical fiber to an optoelectronic component, the device comprising:

an integral support having means for retaining the optoelectronic component and having a V-shaped groove therein for receiving the end of the optical fiber, said retaining means and said groove having a predetermined orientation such that the end face of the optical fiber is aligned with the active surface of the component for optimum transmission of radiation;

means for applying a spring force to hold the optical fiber in said groove;

said spring force applying means includes two holding elements disposed on the side of said optical fiber opposite to said groove and spring means for applying an independent compressional force to each of said two holding elements; and

said two holding elements comprising a metal portion and including a resilient layer disposed between said two holding elements and the optical fiber while engaged and for detaching the optical fiber while disengaged.

2. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said groove is stepped to provide a matched support for a portion of the optical fiber which is bare and a portion which has a protective cover.

3. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient layer is an elastomer.

4. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said holding elements are coated with said resilient layer comprising plastic.

5. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said support is made of a silicon crystal.

6. The device recited in claim 5, wherein said silicon crystal is provided with metallization.

7. The device recited in claim 1, further comprising lens means arranged between said active surface of the optoelectronic component and said end face of the optical fiber.

8. The device recited in claim 1, wherein the optoelectronic component is a second optical fiber and said active surface of the component is the end face of the second optical fiber.

9. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said support is provided with flutes, said device further comprising at least one holding element having claws which engage said flutes, said holding element being adapted to fix the optical fiber in said groove.

10. The device recited in claim 9, wherein said flutes are cut into the sides of openings provided in said support.

11. The device recited in claim 10, wherein said openings are slot-shaped recesses.

12. The device recited in claim 9, wherein said flutes are cut into the lateral faces of said support and extend parallel to said groove.

13. The device recited in claim 1, wherein said groove has a slanting depth.

14. A device for the detachable coupling of an optical fiber to an optoelectronic component, the device comprising:

an integral support body having means for retaining the optoelectronic component and having a V-shaped groove therein for receiving the end of the optical fiber, said retaining means and said groove having a predetermined orientation such that the end face of the optical fiber is aligned with the active surface of the component for optimum transmission of radiation;

said groove being stepped to provide two different axially aligned V-grooves serving as a matched support adapted dimensionally for a portion of the optical fiber which is bare and adapted dimensionally for a portion which has a protective cover; and

means for applying a spring force to hold and in alignment the optical fiber in said groove while engaged and for detaching the optical fiber while disengaged.

15. Apparatus for detachably coupling an optical fiber to an optoelectronic component, the apparatus comprising:

an integral support member having means for retaining the optoelectronic component and having a V-shaped groove therein adapted to receive a portion of the optical fiber, the integral support member further having a rectangular recess in the region immediately adjacent to the means for retaining the optoelectronic component, a rectangular member having a V-shaped groove on its exterior substantially aligned with the V-shaped groove of the integral support member adapted for insertion into the rectangular recess and capable of lateral movement within said rectangular recess for precise alignment of the end of the optical fiber with the optoelectronic component, and clamping means extending over the fiber and both of the v-grooves for maintaining the precise alignment between the end of the optical fiber and the optoelectronic component while engaged and for detaching the optical fiber while disengaged.