Packaged optical devices
First Claim
1. A connection between an optical component and an optical fiber, the connection comprising:
- a housing mounting said the optical component, said housing including a side wall facing a cheek of the optical component, the optical component having an internal light-transfer structure terminating at the cheek, said side wall defining an aperture facing the cheek;
a ferrule positioned around an end of the optical fiber, said ferrule having an end face positioned substantially co-planar with an end face of the optical fiber, said end faces of said ferrule and the optical fiber abutting the cheek of the optical component, said ferrule also having a portion positioned in said aperture of said side wall;
fastening means for mounting said ferrule in said aperture and holding said end faces of said ferrule and the optical fiber in abutment with the cheek of the optical component to cause the optical fiber to be in optical communication with the internal light transfer structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A packaged optical device with an integrated optical component mounted within a housing which includes an end wall confronting a cheek of the component to which an optical fiber is to be connected to communicate with an internal structure of the component. The wall has an aperture in which is mounted an elongate rigid ferrule through which the optical fiber extends, so that the end faces of the fibre and ferrule are co-planar. After the ferrule has been manipulated externally of the housing to align the fibre with the component structure, the ferrule is secured in position by a UV setting adhesive. The end face of the ferrule may be adhered to the cheek of the component to maintain the alignment.
73 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A connection between an optical component and an optical fiber, the connection comprising:
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a housing mounting said the optical component, said housing including a side wall facing a cheek of the optical component, the optical component having an internal light-transfer structure terminating at the cheek, said side wall defining an aperture facing the cheek; a ferrule positioned around an end of the optical fiber, said ferrule having an end face positioned substantially co-planar with an end face of the optical fiber, said end faces of said ferrule and the optical fiber abutting the cheek of the optical component, said ferrule also having a portion positioned in said aperture of said side wall; fastening means for mounting said ferrule in said aperture and holding said end faces of said ferrule and the optical fiber in abutment with the cheek of the optical component to cause the optical fiber to be in optical communication with the internal light transfer structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A connection between an optical component and an optical fiber, the connection comprising:
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a housing mounting said optical component, said housing including a side wall facing a cheek of the optical component, the optical component having an internal light-transfer structure terminating at the cheek, said side wall defining an aperture facing the cheek; a ferrule positioned around an end of the optical fiber, said ferrule having an end face positioned substantially co-planar with an end face of the optical fiber, said end face of said ferrule and the optical fiber abutting the cheek of the optical component, said ferrule also having a portion positioned in said aperture of said side wall; and fastening means for mounting said ferrule in said aperture and holding said end faces of said ferrule and the optical fiber in abutment with the cheek of the optical component to cause the optical fiber to be in communication with the optical component, said fastening means being an adhesive which cures on exposure to ultraviolet radiation and forms an hermetic seal between said ferrule and said side wall, said fastening means also fastening said end face of said ferrule to said cheek of the optical component. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for connecting an optical component and an optical fiber, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a housing onto the optical component, said housing including a side wall facing a cheek of the optical component, the optical component having an internal light-transfer structure for optical communication though the cheek, said side wall defining an aperture facing the cheek; mounting a ferrule around an end of the optical fiber to have an end face of said ferrule positioned substantially co-planar with an end face of the optical fiber; passing said ferrule through said aperture of said side wall and positioning said end face of said ferrule and the optical fiber to abut the cheek of the optical component; manipulating said ferrule from a side of said side wall substantially opposite the optical component to align the optical fiber with the internal light-transfer structure; and securing said ferrule to said side wall to maintain the optical fiber in said alignment with the internal light-transfer structure.
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Specification