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WO1998034145A1 - Ensembles composants optiques - Google Patents

Ensembles composants optiques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998034145A1
WO1998034145A1 PCT/GB1998/000314 GB9800314W WO9834145A1 WO 1998034145 A1 WO1998034145 A1 WO 1998034145A1 GB 9800314 W GB9800314 W GB 9800314W WO 9834145 A1 WO9834145 A1 WO 9834145A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
component
optical
package
optical path
connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1998/000314
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Adrian Charles O'donnell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Integrated Optical Components Ltd
Original Assignee
Integrated Optical Components Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Integrated Optical Components Ltd filed Critical Integrated Optical Components Ltd
Publication of WO1998034145A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998034145A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/43—Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4219—Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
    • G02B6/4236—Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
    • G02B6/4245—Mounting of the opto-electronic elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4256—Details of housings
    • G02B6/426—Details of housings mounting, engaging or coupling of the package to a board, a frame or a panel
    • G02B6/4261—Packages with mounting structures to be pluggable or detachable, e.g. having latches or rails
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4204—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4204—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
    • G02B6/4213—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms the intermediate optical elements being polarisation selective optical elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4219—Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
    • G02B6/4236—Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
    • G02B6/424—Mounting of the optical light guide
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4219—Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor
    • G02B6/4236—Fixing or mounting methods of the aligned elements
    • G02B6/4244—Mounting of the optical elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4251—Sealed packages
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4256—Details of housings
    • G02B6/4262—Details of housings characterised by the shape of the housing
    • G02B6/4265—Details of housings characterised by the shape of the housing of the Butterfly or dual inline package [DIP] type

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an assembly of first and second optical components.
  • Optical communications systems are being used increasingly for telecommunications and data transfer systems. Though widely used at present for long-haul systems, optical fibres are now being used for computer, local area and metropolitan networks. There is thus pressure for the manufacture of assemblies used in these networks to be simplified, resulting in lower costs, and also for increased component packing densities on network cards. Though many of the components used in a network card assembly may be positioned and connected to the card by automatic machinery, the handling of optical fibres on an automatic basis has proved to be extremely difficult. Many active and passive optical components comprise a device contained within an hermetically sealed package, with an optical fibre passing through the package wall and optically coupled to the device within the package.
  • the fibre is sealed to the package wall where the fibre passes therethrough and a suitable length of the fibre (a so-called "pigtail” ) extends away from the package, for connection as required for example to a corresponding pigtail of some other component, to a connector on the card which is to carry the component, or the like.
  • a suitable length of the fibre a so-called "pigtail”
  • this may be done by fusing together the ends of the two fibres.
  • An alternative technique now being used more widely, is to provide an industry standard connector on the end of the pigtail, and to join that connector through a suitable adapter or uniter to a like connector provided on the free end of the other fibre. In either case, for many applications it is important to ensure the polarisation axes of the two fibres being joined are properly aligned, and this requires a high degree of rotational accuracy through the fibre join.
  • the present invention aims at providing an assembly of first and second optical components which eliminates the need for a fibre extending between the components and yet allows low coupling losses on the transfer of an optical signal from the first component to the second component.
  • an assembly of first and second optical components comprising a package within which is contained an optical emitter device, one part of a two-part connector mounted on a wall portion of the package and having means defining an optical path therethrough which means is optically coupled to the emitter device, and the second component comprising a package within which is contained an optical processing device, the other part of the two-part connector mounted on a wall portion of the package and having means defining an optical path therethrough which means is optically coupled to the processing device, the first and second components being directly interengageable by connecting together the two parts of the connector, and the optical path defining means of the first component comprising a beam expander arranged to receive an optical signal from the emitter device, and the optical path defining means of the second component including a lens to receive the expanded beam from the connected first component which lens focuses the beam into a fibre leading to the processing device.
  • an assembly of first and second optical components comprising a package within which is contained an optical emitter device, one part of a two-part connector mounted on a wall portion of the package and having means defining an optical path therethrough which means is optically coupled to the emitter device, and the second component comprising a package within which is contained an optical processing device, a further one part of the two-part connector mounted on a wall portion of the package and having means defining an optical path therethrough which means is optically coupled to the processing device, the first and second components being interengageable by means of an adapter defining two other connector parts and with which the two one connector parts may couple, and the optical path defining means of the first component comprising a beam expander arranged to receive an optical signal from the emitter device, and the optical path defining means of the second component including a lens to receive the expanded beam from the connected first component which lens focuses the beam into a fibre leading to the processing device.
  • the first optical component is directly connected to the second optical component by means of a two-part connector one part of which is arranged on the first component and the other part on the second component.
  • the first optical component is connected to the second optical component by means of an adapter which connects to both of the two one parts of the connector, respectively on the two components.
  • an adapter is purely mechanical in function and does not itself participate in the optical coupling. The difficulties of aligning and abutting fibres at an optical connection therebetween are overcome by eliminating fibres in the vicinity of the connection itself.
  • the optical signal from the emitter is expanded to form a relatively large diameter collimated beam (perhaps of about 100 ⁇ m to 1000 ⁇ m diameter) which passes through the two connector parts and, in the optical path of the second component, is focused into a fibre which is connected to a wave guide in the processing device of the second component.
  • a relatively large diameter collimated beam perhaps of about 100 ⁇ m to 1000 ⁇ m diameter
  • the assembly does not require two fibres to be tightly abutted in precise alignment, unlike the case where connectors are used to join together the pigtails of two separate components.
  • the optical path defining means of the first component forms a substantially symmetrical collimated beam which passes through an aperture in the wall portion of the first component package.
  • that aperture may have a window for example of a sapphire plate fitted thereto and through which the beam may pass.
  • the optical signal emitted from the device of the first component may pass through a lens train comprising a collimator and a circularising lens.
  • the optical signal therefrom usually has an elliptical cross-section and thus the circularising lens could be arranged to convert the optical signal so as to have a substantially circular cross-section.
  • the optical path defining means may also include other components such as a polarising element or an optical isolator.
  • the optical path defining means of the second component includes a fibre which couples to the processing device within the package of the second component. An aperture must be provided in the package for the fibre, and to permit hermetic sealing of the device, it is convenient to provide a seal arrangement within the other connector part.
  • the fibre advantageously is arranged to relieve stress between the device and its package, caused for example by thermal mismatch therebetween.
  • the coupling of the fibre to a wave guide in the processing device may be entirely conventional and will not be discussed in further detail here.
  • the lens provided in the optical path defining means of the second component may comprise a conventional focusing lens, it is preferred for that lens to be spherical and mounted in the other connector part. In this case the expanded beam should pass through a central area of the lens.
  • the processing device of the second component may itself emit an optical signal.
  • the processing of the optical signal comprises modulation, the modulated signal being emitted from the second component.
  • the second component may be provided with a further connector part of a two part connector and having means defining an optical path therethrough which means is optically coupled to the signal emitting part of the processing device.
  • a series of components may simply be connected together by interengaging the connector parts of the various components. It is therefore possible to construct an assembly of components in a simple and compact manner, without using external optical fibres for the connections between the components. This increased connectivity simplifies the construction of an assembly and permits mechanical handling of the components.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional optical component connection technique
  • Figure 2 is a side view on the arrangement of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the first and second components of this invention.
  • a first optical component 10 in the form of a package 1 1 containing a laser device (not shown).
  • the package is provided with a pair of mounting holes 12 allowing the package to be secured to the surface of a card (also not shown) and electrical connection leads 13 extend away from the package on both sides thereof, for connection to tracks provided on the card.
  • An optical fibre 14 passes through an opening in an end wall 16 of the package and is appropriately coupled to the laser device within the package to receive light emitted by the laser device.
  • the fibre is sealed to the package using conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art and which form no part of the present invention; they will not therefore be described in further detail here.
  • the free end of the fibre 14 (which fibre is conventionally referred to as a "pigtail”) is fitted with an industry standard connector 17.
  • an optical modulator 18 having a package 19 provided with suitable mountings to permit the package to be secured to the surface of a card.
  • the modulator 18 has electrical connection leads 21 projecting therefrom, for connection to further tracks provided on the card.
  • the modulator has input and output optical fibres 22 and 23 passing through the package 19 and connected within the package to the modulator device therewithin. The fibres are sealed to the package and their free ends terminate in industry standard connectors 24 and 25 respectively, all three connectors 17, 24 and 25 being of the same design.
  • Connector 17 of the laser component 10 is optically coupled to connector 24 of the modulator 18 by means of an adapter 26 which connects optically and mechanically with both connectors.
  • connector 25 of the modulator is optically coupled to a network fibre 27 having a similar connector 28 on its free end, by means of a further adapter 29.
  • End wall 16 of the laser package 11 is provided with one part 30 of a two part connector, end wall 31 of the second component package 19 being provided with the other part 32 of the connector.
  • the one and other parts 30 and 32 are formed complementarily, the one part being of male form and the other part of female form, so that the parts may be mated together in a closely interfitting manner.
  • the connector parts are manufactured to very tight tolerances with high concentricity, to ensure accurate coupling.
  • Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a laser device 35 mounted within package 11 , but not the electrical connections thereto from the leads 13.
  • Light emitted from the laser device 35 is generally somewhat eliptical and passes along an optical path to the connector part 30, there being a lens train 36 in that path to perform collimation of the beam and circularisation thereof.
  • the circularisation converts the elliptical output to allow a high coupling efficiency to be achieved to an optical fibre in the second optical component, as the circularisation increases the overlap integral between the laser output, transformed by the lenses, to the circularly symmetric mode profile of the fibre.
  • Collimation is performed by a conventional lens and the circularisation by one or more further lenses which may include a planoconvex lens which magnifies in only one plane or an aspheric lens which provides non-equal magnification in two planes mutually at right angles.
  • the optical train may include additional elements 37, such as an optical isolator and/or a polariser.
  • the collimated output is fed through an aperture in the package wall 16 provided with a window for example of a sapphire plate (not shown), to allow the laser device to be hermetically sealed within the package.
  • a window for example of a sapphire plate (not shown)
  • the laser device On the outside of the package, in register with the window in the end wall 16, is attached for example by welding or soldering the one part 30 of the two-part connector.
  • a substantially spherical lens 38 mounted within the other part 32 of the connector is a substantially spherical lens 38, arranged to collect the collimated expanded beam passing through the one connector part and to focus that beam on to the end of a fibre 39 held clamped within a ferrule 40 fitted within the other connector part 32.
  • the other end of the fibre 39 couples to a wave guide in the modulator device 18, in a manner well understood in the art, with the fibre curved through a shallow radius as shown in Figure 3.
  • the ferrule 40 seals to the other connector part 32 such that the package 19 may be hermetically sealed. Any thermal mismatch between the modulator device 18 and its package 19 may be accommodated by the fibre either straightening slightly or increasing its curvature slightly, as appropriate.
  • the optical modulator 18 together with its package 19 is provided with a further connector part in order to take the modulated optical signal out of the package and to some other component or fibre.
  • This further connector part is of the same construction as the other connector part 32 of the component.
  • the further connector part may be of the same design of the one connector part 30 of the first component 10. In this case, similar components may be connected serially so permitting the assembly of a number of components in a simple and rapid manner.
  • the first component 10 has been described as a laser. This invention is not limited to the first component being a laser: the first component could be some other form of optical emitter, such as the downstream end of a modulator from which an optical signal issues.
  • the two connector parts may include interfitting lugs and recesses or other means whereby the two connector parts may be coupled only in a fixed and predefined rotational alignment. In this way, should the optical signal from the first component be polarised, the polarisation axes of the signal being passed through the connector will be maintained.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un ensemble comprenant un premier et un deuxième composant optique, le premier composant comprenant un boîtier (11) dans lequel se trouve un émetteur optique (35) et le deuxième composant comprenant un boîtier (19) dans lequel se trouve un dispositif de traitement optique (18). Une partie (30) d'un connecteur en deux parties est montée sur une paroi (16) du boîtier (11) du premier composant et comprend un moyen définissant un guide optique couplé à l'émetteur (35). L'autre partie (32) du connecteur en deux parties est montée sur une paroi (31) du boîtier (19) du deuxième composant et comprend un moyen définissant un guide optique couplé au dispositif de traitement (18). Il est possible de connecter directement entre eux le premier et le deuxième composant en connectant l'une à l'autre les deux parties (30, 32) du connecteur. Le moyen définissant un guide optique du premier composant comprend un dilatateur (36) de faisceau qui reçoit un signal optique de l'émetteur (35) et le moyen définissant un guide optique du deuxième composant comprend une lentille (38) qui focalise un faisceau dilaté reçu dans une fibre (39) conduisant au dispositif de traitement (18).
PCT/GB1998/000314 1997-02-03 1998-02-02 Ensembles composants optiques Ceased WO1998034145A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9702124.0A GB9702124D0 (en) 1997-02-03 1997-02-03 Optical component assemblies
GB9702124.0 1997-02-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998034145A1 true WO1998034145A1 (fr) 1998-08-06

Family

ID=10806975

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1998/000314 Ceased WO1998034145A1 (fr) 1997-02-03 1998-02-02 Ensembles composants optiques

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB9702124D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1998034145A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113467015A (zh) * 2021-08-03 2021-10-01 新疆师范大学 一种激光器耦合台的中心校准装置

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56110907A (en) * 1980-02-07 1981-09-02 Nec Corp Optical transmitter
US4616899A (en) * 1984-08-31 1986-10-14 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Methods of and apparatus for coupling an optoelectronic component to an optical fiber
JPS63252497A (ja) * 1987-04-09 1988-10-19 Nec Corp アイソレ−タ内蔵型半導体レ−ザモジユ−ル
JPH04369888A (ja) * 1991-06-19 1992-12-22 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 半導体レーザモジュール
EP0519219A2 (fr) * 1991-06-17 1992-12-23 AB Stratos Limited Dispositif pour connecter optiquement un élément optique, par exemple une fibre optique, avec une lentille
JPH05251744A (ja) * 1992-03-06 1993-09-28 Nec Corp 発光モジュールの製造方法
WO1994022187A1 (fr) * 1993-03-25 1994-09-29 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Laser

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS56110907A (en) * 1980-02-07 1981-09-02 Nec Corp Optical transmitter
US4616899A (en) * 1984-08-31 1986-10-14 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Methods of and apparatus for coupling an optoelectronic component to an optical fiber
JPS63252497A (ja) * 1987-04-09 1988-10-19 Nec Corp アイソレ−タ内蔵型半導体レ−ザモジユ−ル
EP0519219A2 (fr) * 1991-06-17 1992-12-23 AB Stratos Limited Dispositif pour connecter optiquement un élément optique, par exemple une fibre optique, avec une lentille
JPH04369888A (ja) * 1991-06-19 1992-12-22 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 半導体レーザモジュール
JPH05251744A (ja) * 1992-03-06 1993-09-28 Nec Corp 発光モジュールの製造方法
WO1994022187A1 (fr) * 1993-03-25 1994-09-29 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Laser

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 005, no. 182 (P - 090) 20 November 1981 (1981-11-20) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 068 (E - 716) 16 February 1989 (1989-02-16) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 017, no. 249 (E - 1366) 18 May 1993 (1993-05-18) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 018, no. 008 (E - 1486) 7 January 1994 (1994-01-07) *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113467015A (zh) * 2021-08-03 2021-10-01 新疆师范大学 一种激光器耦合台的中心校准装置

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