Optical networking unit employing optimized optical packaging

• US 6,652,158 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optical Zonu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Optical Zonu Corporation
• Inventors: Quinn, Kerry, Bartur, Meir, Makonnen, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US09/836,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20020028049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 385/88-94
• US Class Current: 385/92
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• 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 6/4227 Active alignment methods, e.g. procedures and algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/504 using direct modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/564 Power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0338 the correction of the phase error being performed by a feed forward loop

Abstract

An optical networking unit includes a plurality of optical components mounted on a substrate composed of a material transparent to radiation in a frequency range. At least one of the optical components is secured to the substrate by a curable bonding material of a type curable in response to exposure to radiation in said frequency range. One optical component preferably comprises an optical fiber secured to an optical fiber holder holding the optical fiber and secured to the substrate. An active optical component is optically aligned with the optical fiber and is secured to an active optical component holder holding the active optical component and secured to the substrate.

Claims

1. An optical networking unit, comprising:

a substrate at least a portion of which allows radiation in a frequency range therethrough;

an optical fiber holder secured to said substrate;

an optical fiber secured to said optical fiber holder;

an active optical component holder secured to said substrate; and

an active optical component secured to said active optical component holder and optically aligned wit said optical fiber;

a beam splitter;

a second active optical component holder secured to said substrate; and

a second active optical element secured to said second active optical component holder;

wherein at least one of said optical fiber holder and active optical component holder is secured to said substrate by a curable bonding material of a type curable in response to exposure to radiation in said frequency range; and

wherein said second active optical component holder is secured to said substrate via a radiation curable bonding material.

2. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 1, wherein said radiation in a frequency range comprises UV light and wherein said curable bonding material comprises a UV light curable adhesive.

3. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 1, wherein said active optical component comprises a diode laser.

4. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 1, wherein said first active optical component is a diode laser and said second active optical component is a photodetector.

5. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 1, further comprising a third active optical component holder secured to said substrate and a third active optical element secured to said third active optical component holder and wherein said third active optical component holder is secured to said substrate via a radiation curable bonding material.

6. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 5, wherein said first active optical component is a diode laser and said second and third active optical components are first and second photodetectors.

7. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 1, further comprising one or more passive optical components.

8. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 1, wherein said first active optical component transmits or receives a first wavelength of light and wherein said optical fiber transmits or receives a second wavelength of light.

9. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 8, further comprising an optical filter configured in the optical path so as to direct only the second wavelength of light to said second active optical component.

10. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 6, wherein said laser diode provides a first wavelength of light and wherein said optical fiber provides a second and third wavelength of light.

11. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 10, further comprising a first beam splitter and a first optical filter configured in the optical path so as to direct only the second wavelength of light to said first photodetector and a second beam splitter and a second optical filter configured in the optical path so as to direct only the third wavelength of light to said second photodetector.

12. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 11, wherein said first beam splitter, first optical filter, second beam splitter and second optical filter are secured to said optical fiber holder or said active optical component holder.

13. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 12, further comprising a passive optical component holder and wherein said first beam splitter, first optical filter, second beam splitter and second optical filter are secured to said passive optical component holder and wherein said passive optical component holder is secured to said optical fiber holder or said active optical component holder.

14. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 1, further comprising a housing and wherein said substrate, said optical fiber, said active optical component and said holders are configured in said housing.

15. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 7, wherein said passive optical component comprises a lens.

16. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 15, wherein said lens comprises a GRIN, aspheric or ball lens.

17. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 15, wherein said lens is configured as part of said active optical component.

18. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 15, wherein said lens is mounted on said active optical component holder.

19. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 15, wherein said lens is mounted on said optical fiber holder.

20. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 15, wherein said lens is mounted on a passive optical component holder.

21. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 7, wherein said passive optical components comprise one or more of a beam splitter, filter, optical isolator, prism or lens.

22. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 7, wherein said passive optical components are secured to said optical fiber holder.

23. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 7, wherein said passive optical components are secured to said active optical component holder.

24. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 22, further comprising a passive optical component holder mounted on said optical fiber holder and wherein said passive optical components are mounted on said passive optical component holder.

25. An optical networking unit as set out in claim 23, further comprising a passive optical component holder mounted on said active optical component holder and wherein said passive optical components are mounted on said passive optical component holder.