Optical device with alignment compensation

• US 7,369,334 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: CyberOptics Corporation (Nordson Corporation)
• Inventors: Knipfer, Michael, Mowry, Gregory S., Case, Steven K., Skunes, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stultz; Jessica T
• Application Number:
  US11/181,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20050249464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 359/822, 359/744
• US Class Current: 359/822
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0875 by means of one or more refracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/255 Splicing of light guides, e.g. by fusion or bonding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2553 Splicing machines, e.g. optical fibre fusion splicer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2555 Alignment or adjustment devices for aligning prior to splicing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29365 in a multireflection configuration, i.e. beam following a zigzag path between filters or filtering operations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2938 for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g. 1xN, NxM
• 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 6/3636 the mechanical coupling means being grooves G02B6/3652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3652 the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers
• 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 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• 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 6/423 : using guiding surfaces for the alignment
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/003 : Alignment of optical elements G02B7/001, G02B7/002 take precedence; for mirrors G02B7/1822

Abstract

An optical device is provided which includes a plurality of optical modules and an alignment compensation module. Each optical module includes an optical component fixedly coupled to a relative reference mount. The relative reference mount is configured to attach to a substrate. A plurality of optical modules mount on the substrate to form the optical device. The alignment compensation module removes residual alignment errors of the optical device.

Claims

1. An alignment compensation module to align a light beam with an initial angular propagation direction along a z-axis comprising:

a single lens element having two curved surfaces configured to deviate the angular propagation direction of the light beam when rotated about a y-axis which is perpendicular to the z-axis, wherein the amount of deviation is less than an amount of rotation of the single lens element; and

a mount configured to rotate the lens element about the y-axis which is perpendicular to the z-axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount fixedly secures the single lens element with an attachment material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount includes registration features configured to mate with registration features on a fixed reference.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount is transparent to radiation used to fix a position of the single lens element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the light beam is collimated; and

the single lens element does not substantially alter the collimation of the light beam.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the single lens element is rotated at least 5 times further in angular measure than the angular deviation of the light beam.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the lens element is additionally configured to rotate about an x-axis; and

the mount is configured to rotate the lens element about the x-axis which is perpendicular to both the y-axis and the z-axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the mount includes a spherical surface that is received in a receptacle.