Small form factor optoelectronic transceivers

• US 6,302,596 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lumentum Operations, LLC (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McKnite, Patrick E., Swain, Miles, Trewhella, Jeannine M., Cohen, Mitchell S., Hogan, William K., Gaio, David P., Isaacs, Phillip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/348,955
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 385/93, 385/92, 385/88, 385/89, 385/90
• US Class Current: 385/93
• 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 6/4207 with optical elements reducing the sensitivity to optical feedback anti-reflection devices specially adapted for lasers, see H01S3/0064
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/421 the intermediate optical component consisting of a short length of fibre, e.g. fibre stub
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/426 mounting, engaging or coupling of the package to a board, a frame or a panel
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4263 of the transisitor outline [TO] can type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

An optical subassembly (OSA), in accordance with the present invention, includes a housing, which may be substantially rectangular, the OSA includes a first end portion and a second end portion oppositely disposed from the first end portion. The first end portion forms a bore configured and dimensioned to receive a ferrule having an optical fiber therein. The bore is adjacent to a ferrule stop which is integrally formed in the housing. A lens is integrally formed with the housing. The lens has a planar surface and a convex surface opposite the planar surface. The planar surface of the lens is substantially parallel to and set in from the ferrule stop to prevent contact between the ferrule and the planar surface. The optical device, the lens, and the bore which accepts the ferrule are all in optical alignment.

Claims

1. An optical subassembly comprising:

a housing including a first end portion and a second end portion oppositely disposed from the first end portion;

the first end portion forming a bore configured and dimensioned to receive a connector ferrule having an optical fiber therein, the bore being adjacent to a ferrule stop integrally formed in the housing;

a lens integrally formed with the housing, the lens having a planar surface and a convex surface opposite the planar surface, the planar surface of the lens being substantially parallel to and set in from the ferrule stop to prevent contact between the ferrule and the planar surface;

an optical device in operative relationship with the bore, the lens being optically aligned with the fiber in the ferrule; and

wherein the housing includes a protrusion extending from the second end portion forming a substantially circular opening in the housing for receiving the optical device, the protrusion including an angled external surface about the circular opening to receive a bonding compound for bonding the optical device to the housing.

2. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical subassembly includes an optical transmitter.

3. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the optical subassembly is class 1 eye safe.

4. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the housing includes a material transparent to wavelengths of light provided by the optical transmitter.

5. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the optical transmitter is a laser transmitter and the laser of the transmitter is one of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser and an edge emitting laser.

6. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially rectangular and forms a substantially circular opening in the housing for receiving the optical device.

7. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the optical device is bonded to the housing with an ultraviolet light curing compound.

8. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing includes one of polycarbonate, polyethersulfone and polyesterimide.

9. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical subassembly includes an optical receiver.

10. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical device is housed in a TO can package.

11. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical subassembly is adapted for connectors using ferrules of about 1.25 mm diameter.

12. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the ferrule stop includes a recess for receiving debris introduced into the bore.

13. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the convex surface is separated from the planar surface to permit light, from the optical fiber, beyond an acceptance numerical aperture for the lens to be redirected back into the first end portion.

14. A transceiver module comprising:

a compliant retainer having a first end portion oppositely disposed to a second end portion, the first end portion dimensioned and configured to receive optical connectors;

a circuit board being received in the second end portion of the retainer, the circuit board connecting to optical subassemblies for coupling to the optical connectors, the circuit board for processing signals to and from the transceiver module and the optical subassemblies, the second end portion including a U shaped portion for permitting the optical subassemblies to be received in the retainer;

the transceiver including a transmitter optical subassembly matable to a receiver optical subassembly, each of the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly including;

a substantially rectangular housing forming a bore configured and dimensioned to receive a ferrule having an optical fiber therein, the bore being adjacent to a ferrule stop integrally formed in the housing; and

a lens integrally formed with the housing, the lens having a planar surface and a convex surface opposite the planar surface, the planar surface of the lens being substantially parallel to and set in from the ferrule stop to prevent contact between the ferrule and the planar surface.

15. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the ferrule stop includes a recess for receiving debris introduced into the bore.

16. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, further comprising an optical device for each of the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly in operative relationship with the bore, and the lens being optically aligned with the fiber in the ferrule.

17. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the transmitter optical subassembly and receiver optical subassembly are matable by an attachment means integrally formed in the housing of the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly.

18. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the transmitter optical subassembly is class 1 eye safe.

19. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the housings of the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly include a material transparent to wavelengths of light provided by the transmitter optical subassembly.

20. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the transmitter optical subassembly includes a laser and the laser of the transmitter optical subassembly is one of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser and an edge emitting laser.

21. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the housings of the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly include one of polycarbonate, polyethersulfone and polyetherimide.

22. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the bores are adapted for ferrules of about 1.25 mm diameter.

23. The transceiver module as recited in claim 14, wherein the housings of the transmitter and receiver optical subassemblies form a substantially circular opening for receiving an optical device.

24. The transceiver module as recited in claim 23, wherein the optical device includes a TO can.

25. The optical subassembly as recited in claim 23, wherein the housing includes a protrusion extending from a second end portion opposite the bore, the protrusion forming a substantially circular opening in the housing for receiving the optical device, the protrusion including an angled external surface about the circular opening to receive a bonding compound for bonding the optical device to the housing.

26. A transceiver comprising a transmitter optical subassembly housing matable to a receiver optical subassembly housing, each of the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly including an attachment structure for receiving and securing the attachment structure of the other, the attachment structures being integrally formed into the housings;

and

a compliant retainer having a first end portion dimensioned and configured to receive optical connectors and a second end portion including a U shaped portion for permitting the transmitter optical subassembly and the receiver optical subassembly to be received in the retainer.

27. The transceiver as recited in claim 26, wherein the attachment structure on one subassembly includes tabs and the attachment structure on the other subassembly includes holes for receiving the tabs.

28. The transceiver as recited in claim 26, wherein the attachment structures include slidably matable dovetail-shaped structures.

29. An optical subassembly comprising:

a housing including a first end portion and a second end portion oppositely disposed from the first end portion;

the first end portion forming a bore configured and dimensioned to receive a connector ferrule having an optical fiber therein, the bore being adjacent to a ferrule stop integrally formed in the housing;

a lens integrally formed with the housing, the lens having a planar surface and a convex surface opposite the planar surface, the planar surface of the lens being substantially parallel to and set in from the ferrule stop to prevent contact between the ferrule and the planar surface; and

an optical device in operative relationship with the bore, the lens being optically aligned with the fiber in the ferrule;

wherein the convex surface is separated from the planar surface to permit light, from the optical fiber, beyond an acceptance numerical aperture for the lens to be redirected back into the first end portion.