Flexure

• US 20020025126A1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Finot, Marc, Verdiell, Jean-Marc, Epitaux, Marc, Webjorn, Jonas, Kohler, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,585,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/92
• 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 6/4225 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 6/4237 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/424 Mounting of the optical light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4244 Mounting of the optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4248 Feed-through connections for the hermetical passage of fibres through a package wall see provisionally also G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4251 Sealed packages G02B6/4248 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4257 having a supporting carrier or a mounting substrate or a mounting plate G02B6/3648 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4265 of the Butterfly or dual inline package [DIP] type

Abstract

A flexure and package including the same are provided. In one embodiment, the flexure is coupled to a second optical element and a substrate to maintain the second optical element in alignment with a first optical element. The flexure comprises a body, a pair of front and back legs. The attachment of the rear legs to the substrate causes the flexure to move from a first flexure position to a second flexure position, the distance between the first flexure position and the second flexure position equaling an offset distance. A specified length of the body is chosen such that the offset distance causes a second offset distance of the second optical component held by the flexure, and this second offset distance is within a specified range. The second offset distance is equal to the difference between a primary second optical component position and a secondary second optical component position.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a substrate having a floor;

a first optical element coupled to the substrate;

a second optical element; and

a flexure coupled to the second optical element and the substrate to maintain the second optical element in optical alignment with the first optical element, the flexure including a body and a pair of front legs, the flexure also including a pair of rear legs that are attached to the substrate after the attachment of the front legs to the substrate, the attachment of the rear legs causing the flexure to move from a first flexure position to a second flexure position, the distance between the first flexure position and the second flexure position equaling an offset distance, the body of the flexure having a specified length chosen such that the offset distance causes a second offset distance of the second optical component held by the flexure which is within a specified range, the second offset distance equal to the distance between a primary second optical component position and a secondary second optical component position.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the body has a circular segment shape.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the body includes a pair of alignment apertures.

4. The package of claim 2 wherein the flexure includes at least one thinned region.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the thinned region is a 0.5 etched region on a leg of the flexure.

6. The package of claim 4 wherein the thinned region is a 0.5 etched strip on each of the pair of legs on the flexure.

7. The package of claim 4 wherein the thinned region is a single post connecting the leg to the body.

8. The package of claim 4 wherein the thinned region includes a first post and a second post connecting the leg to the body.

9. The package of claim 2 further comprising an optical component holder.

10. The package of claim 9 wherein the optical component holder is a fiber groove.

11. The package of claim 2 further comprising a platform mounted on top of the body of the flexure, the platform shorter in length than the body of the flexure.

12. The package of claim 2 further comprising a platform mounted on top of the body of the flexure, the platform running the length of the body.

13. The package of claim 2 wherein at least one leg includes an aperture in the form of a slot.

14. The package of claim 13 wherein the slot comprises a surface having an etched region, and the etched region including an aperture.

15. The package of claim 13 wherein the slot comprises a surface having an etched region, the etched region dividing the surface into a first surface and a second surface, and the second surface including an aperture.

16. The package of claim 13 wherein the slot comprises a surface having a first etched region and a second etched region, the first and second etched regions dividing the surface into a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, and the third surface including an aperture.

17. The package of claim 1 wherein the body is a trapezoidal shape.

18. The package of claim 17 wherein the body includes a pair of alignment apertures.

19. The package of claim 17 wherein the flexure includes at least one thinned region.

20. The package of claim 19 wherein the thinned region is a 0.5 etched region on a leg of the flexure.

21. The package of claim 19 wherein the thinned region is a 0.5 etched strip on each of the pair of legs on the flexure.

22. The package of claim 19 wherein the thinned region is a single post connecting the leg to the body.

23. The package of claim 19 wherein the thinned region includes a first and a second post connecting the leg to the body.

24. The package of claim 17 further comprising a platform mounted on top of the body of the flexure, the platform shorter in length than the body of the flexure.

25. The package of claim 17 further comprising a platform mounted on top of the body of the flexure, the platform running the length of the body.

26. The package of claim 17 further comprising an optical component holder.

27. The package of claim 26 wherein the optical component holder is a fiber groove.

28. The package of claim 17 wherein at least one leg includes an aperture in the form of a slot.

29. The package of claim 28 wherein the slot comprises a surface having an etched region, and the etched region including an aperture.

30. The package of claim 28 wherein the slot comprises a surface having an etched region, the etched region dividing the surface into a first surface and a second surface, and the second surface including an aperture.

31. The package of claim 28 wherein the slot comprises a surface having a first etched region and a second etched region, the first and second etched regions dividing the surface into a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, and the third surface including an aperture.

32. A package comprising:

a substrate having a floor;

a first optical element coupled to the substrate;

a second optical element; and

a flexure coupled to the second optical element and the substrate to maintain the second optical element in optical alignment with the first optical element, the flexure including a body with a circular segment shape and a pair of front legs, the flexure also including a pair of rear legs that are attached to the substrate, the attachment of the rear legs causing the flexure to move from a first flexure position to a second flexure position, the distance between the first flexure position and the second flexure position equaling an offset distance, the body of the flexure having a specified length chosen such that the offset distance causes a second offset distance of the second optical component held by the flexure which is within a specified range, the second offset distance equal to the distance between a primary second optical component position and a secondary second optical component position, and wherein at least one leg includes an aperture in the form of a slot.

33. The package of claim 32 wherein the body includes a pair of alignment apertures.

34. The package of claim 32 wherein the flexure includes at least one thinned region.

35. The package of claim 32 further comprising an optical component holder.

36. The package of claim 35 wherein the optical component holder is a fiber groove.

37. The package of claim 32 further comprising a platform mounted on top of the body of the flexure, the platform shorter in length than the body of the flexure.

39. The package of claim 38 wherein the body includes a pair of alignment apertures.

40. The package of claim 38 wherein the flexure includes at least one thinned region.

41. The package of claim 38 further comprising an optical component holder.

42. The package of claim 41 wherein the optical component holder is a fiber groove.

43. The package of claim 38 further comprising a platform mounted on top of the body of the flexure, the platform shorter in length than the body of the flexure.

38. A package comprising:

a substrate having a floor;

a first optical element coupled to the substrate;

a second optical element; and

a flexure coupled to the second optical element and the substrate to maintain the second optical element in optical alignment with the first optical element, the flexure including a trapezoidal shaped body and a pair of front legs, the flexure also including a pair of rear legs that are attached to the substrate after the attachment of the front legs to the substrate, the attachment of the rear legs causing the flexure to move from a first flexure position to a second flexure position, the distance between the first flexure position and the second flexure position equaling an offset distance, the body of the flexure having a specified length chosen such that the offset distance causes a second offset distance of the second optical component held by the flexure which is within a specified range, the second offset distance equal to the distance between a primary second optical component position and a secondary second optical component position, and wherein at least one leg includes an aperture in the form of a slot.