Method and apparatus for providing optical coupling between optical components
First Claim
1. A method of mounting first and second optical components in optically coupled relationship, wherein the first optical component comprises an optical waveguide formed in or mounted on a first substrate and the second optical component is formed in or mounted on a second substrate, wherein the first and second substrates are provided with at least one pair of substantially complementary profile mating surfaces, and wherein the first and second optical components are positioned with respect to their respective substrates with a precision that ensures that a maximum value of optical coupling between said components occurs with a relative positioning of each of said mating surfaces with respect to its pair providing a non-zero spacing therebetween of not substantially more than 101μ
- m, in which method said relative positioning is substantially established and is held while a bonding medium between each of said mating surfaces and its pair is solidified.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical coupling between the end of a laser (10) mounted on a silica motherboard (12) and an optical fibre (11) is effected with the aid of a silicon platform (14) to which the end of the fibre (11) is secured. The motherboard (12) and fibre platform (11) are crystallographically etched to provide complementary mating profiles with a clearance of less than 10 μm when alignment is established. While that alignment is maintained, resin (23) is introduced between motherboard and the fibre platform, and is cured. The minimal thickness of the cured resin minimises misalignments caused by resin shrinkage.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of mounting first and second optical components in optically coupled relationship, wherein the first optical component comprises an optical waveguide formed in or mounted on a first substrate and the second optical component is formed in or mounted on a second substrate, wherein the first and second substrates are provided with at least one pair of substantially complementary profile mating surfaces, and wherein the first and second optical components are positioned with respect to their respective substrates with a precision that ensures that a maximum value of optical coupling between said components occurs with a relative positioning of each of said mating surfaces with respect to its pair providing a non-zero spacing therebetween of not substantially more than 101μ
- m, in which method said relative positioning is substantially established and is held while a bonding medium between each of said mating surfaces and its pair is solidified.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14)
- 9. A device having a first optical component comprising a first optical waveguide formed in or mounted on a first substrate and a second optical component comprising a second optical waveguide formed in or mounted on a second substrate, wherein the first and second substrates are provided with at least one pair of substantially complementary profile mating surfaces, wherein the first and second components are held positioned relative to each other so as to provide a substantially maximised value of optical coupling therebetween by a bonding medium that provides a bond between said at least one pair of substantially complementary profile mating surfaces, the bonding medium of said bond having a non-zero thickness of not substantially more than 10μ
Specification