Optical device

• US 6,956,999 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: CyberOptics Corporation (Nordson Corporation)
• Inventors: Case, Steven K., Skunes, Timothy A., Mowry, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, RICHARD H
• Application Number:
  US09/920,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20020114580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 385/52, 356/153
• US Class Current: 385/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3838 using grooves for light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• 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 6/4221 involving a visual detection of the position of the elements, e.g. by using a microscope or a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4224 using visual alignment markings, e.g. index methods
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4225 by a direct measurement of the degree of coupling, e.g. the amount of light power coupled to the fibre or the opto-electronic element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4226 Positioning means for moving the elements into alignment, e.g. alignment screws, deformation of the mount
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4227 Active alignment methods, e.g. procedures and algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4228 Passive alignment, i.e. without a detection of the degree of coupling or the position of the elements G02B6/4234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4231 with intermediate elements, e.g. rods and balls, between the elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4232 using the surface tension of fluid solder to align the elements, e.g. solder bump techniques flip-chip mounting techniques in assembly of semiconductor devices H01L24/81
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4236 Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4238 Soldering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4239 Adhesive bonding; Encapsulation with polymer material

Abstract

An optical device includes a fixed reference. A first optical module has a first optical component prealigned with respect to a reference feature, the first optical module is subsequently mounted to a first predetermined location on the fixed reference. A second optical module has second optical component prealigned with respect to a reference feature, the second optical module mounted to a second predetermined location on the fixed reference.

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising:

a fixed reference;

a first standardized optical module having a first optical component prealigned relative to an external reference frame provided by an external reference standard, the first optical module mounted to a first predetermined location on the fixed reference; and

a second standardized optical module having a second optical component prealigned relative to the external reference frame provided by the external reference standard, the second optical module mounted to a second predetermined location on the fixed reference;

wherein the first and second optical modules are prealigned relative to the external reference frame provided by the external reference standard and mounted at the first and second predetermined locations such that the optical components optically interact with one another in a desired manner, without further alignment.

2. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the first and second optical modules carry reference features and the prealignment is with respect to the external reference features.

3. The optical device of claims 1 or 2 wherein the fixed reference carries reference features at the first and second predetermined locations.

4. The optical device of claim 1 wherein the first optical module comprises:

a first prealignment mount; and

the first optical component is mounted in the first prealignment mount.

5. The optical device of claim 4 wherein the second optical module comprises:

a second prealignment mount; and

the second optical component mounted in the second prealignment mount.

6. The optical device of claim 4 wherein the first optical component is fixed at a prealigned orientation by the first prealignment mount.

7. The optical device of claim 6 wherein the first optical component can move with six degrees of freedom relative to reference features prior to being fixed to the first prealignment mount.

8. The optical device of claim 4 including a prealignment mount coupling adapted to fixedly couple the first optical component to the first prealignment mount at a prealigned orientation.

9. The optical device of claim 1 including a first fixed reference coupling to fixedly couple the first optical module to the fixed reference.

10. An optical device, comprising:

a fixed reference;

a first standardized optical module comprising;

a first optical component;

a first prealignment mount;

a first fixed reference coupling which fixedly couples the prealignment mount to a predetermined location on the fixed reference;

a first prealignment mount coupling which fixedly couples the first optical component to the first prealignment mount at a prealigned orientation relative to an external reference frame of an external reference standard and the fixed reference coupling;

a second standardized optical module comprising;

a second optical component;

a second prealignment mount;

a fixed reference coupling which fixedly couples the prealignment mount to a predetermined location on the fixed reference;

a second prealignment mount coupling which fixedly couples the second optical component to the second prealignment mount at a prealigned orientation relative to the external reference frame of the external reference standard and to the fixed reference coupling;

wherein the first and second optical components are oriented in the external reference frame to optically interact with one another in a desired manner, without further alignment.

11. The optical device of claim 10 wherein the first and second fixed reference coupling include reference features.

12. The optical device of claims 10 or 11 wherein the fixed reference includes reference features at the first and second predetermined locations.

13. The optical device of claim 10 wherein the first optical component can move with six degrees of freedom prior to being fixed by the first prealignment mount coupling.

14. A method of manufacturing an optical device, comprising:

obtaining a fixed reference;

obtaining a first standardized prealigned optical module having a first optical component prealigned with an external reference frame provided by an external reference standard;

obtaining a second standardized prealigned optical module having a second optical component prealigned with the external reference frame of the external reference standard; and

fixedly mounting the first and second optical modules at predetermined locations on the fixed reference wherein the first and second optical devices are positioned to optically interact with each other in a desired manner due to their prealignment with the external reference frame of the reference standard and without further alignment.

15. The method of claim 14 including placing the first and second prealigned optical modules at predetermined locations on the fixed reference prior to fixedly mounting.

16. The method of claim 14 including prealigning the first and second optical modules prior to fixedly mounting.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein prealigning the first and second optical modules comprises aligning the modules in a reference frame defined by the external reference standard.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein prealigning comprises fixing the first and second optical components in prealignment mounts, respectively.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein prealigning includes compensating for optical variations in the optical components.

20. The method of claim 19 including:

obtaining a third prealigned optical module having a third optical component prealigned with the external reference standard; and

fixedly mounting the third prealigned optical module at a predetermined location on the fixed reference wherein the third optical module is positioned to optically interact in a desired manner with at least one of the first and second optical modules.

21. An optical device manufactured in accordance with claim 14.

22. Computer software configured to implement the method of claim 14.