Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.

Chong Wang

I-Lung Ho

Kai-Sheng Lin

Jun Zheng

Qin Li

Justin Lii

YongXuan Liang

Che-Shou Yeh

Zhengyu Miao

Jianhong Luo

Ziliang Cai

Yi Wang

Hsiu-Che Wang

Luohan Peng

Hao-Hsiang Liao

Haohui Mao

Shih-Chia Liu

The present disclosure is generally directed to a lens clip that includes an optical lens slot to securely hold an optical lens at a predetermined position to mitigate effects of post-annealing shift. The lens clip includes a base that provides at least one substrate mating surface for mounting to a substrate, and at least first and second arms extending from the base. The first and second arms extend substantially parallel relative to each other and define at least a portion of an optical lens slot. The optical lens slot is configured to receive at least a portion of an optical lens and securely hold the optical lens at a predetermined position to ensure optical alignment of the optical lens, e.g., relative to an associated laser diode or other optical component, during fixation of the optical lens to the substrate using, for instance, UV-curing optical adhesives.

Lens clip for coupling and optical alignment of an optical lens and an optical subassembly module implementing same

In general the present disclosure is directed to a temperature control device, e.g., a TEC, that includes a top plate with at least first and second contact pads to allow for a soldering process to attach optical components to the first contact pad without causing one or more layers of the second contact pad to reflow and solidify with an uneven mounting surface. Thus, optical components such as a focus lens can be mounted to the second contact pad via, for instance, thermal epoxy. This avoids the necessity of a submount to protect the focus lens from the relatively high heat introduced during a soldering process as well as maintain the flatness of the second contact pad within tolerance so that the mounted focus lens optically aligns by virtue of its physical location/orientation with other associated optical components coupled to the first contact pad, e.g., a laser diode.

Techniques for attachment and alignment of optical components on a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and an optical subassembly implementing same

In general, the present disclosure is directed to a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) module for use in an optical transceiver or transmitter that includes a magnetically-shielded optical isolator to minimize or otherwise reduce magnetization of TOSA components. An embodiment of the present disclosure includes a TOSA housing with magnetic shielding at least partially surrounding an optical isolator, with the magnetic shielding reflecting associated magnetic energy away from components, such as a metal TOSA housing or components disposed therein, that could become magnetized and adversely impact the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field associated with the optical isolator.

Techniques for magnetic shielding of an optical isolator to maintain nominal magnetic flux density and a transmitter or transceiver system implementing same

The present disclosure is generally directed to a TO can laser package that includes an off-center focus lens integrated into a lens cap to compensate displacement of an associated laser diode. The TO can laser package includes a TO header with a mounting structure for directly electrically coupling an associated laser diode to electrical leads/pins without the use of an intermediate interconnect. The mounting structure displaces the laser diode such that an emission surface, and more particularly, an origin thereof, is displaced/offset relative to a center of the TO header. The integrated lens cap includes a focus lens with an optical center that is offset from a center of the TO header at a distance that is substantially equal to the displacement of the laser diode. Thus, the displacement of the laser diode is compensated for by the off-center focus lens to minimize or otherwise reduce optical misalignment.

TO can laser assembly with off-center lens cap and an optical transceiver or transmitter implementing same

A multi-channel transceiver, consistent with the present disclosure, includes a multiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) device configured to be shared by, and support operations of, a multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) and multi-channel receiver optical subassembly (ROSA) within a single transceiver housing. The shared MUX/DEMUX device may be referred to herein as simply a shared AWG for ease of description and not for purposes of limitation. The shared AWG receives optical signals from a plurality of TOSA modules at different channel wavelengths via a plurality of mux input ports, and then combines the optical signals into a multiplexed optical signal, with the multiplexed optical signal being output via a mux output port. In addition, the shared AWG receives an optical signal having different channel wavelengths at a demux input port and separates channel wavelengths to be output via a plurality of demux output ports.

Optical multiplexer\demultiplexer with input and output ports on a single side, and an optical transceiver implementing same

In general, the present disclosure is directed to a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) that includes a top plate or bottom plate being formed of a high thermal conductivity material, and the other of the top plate and bottom plate being formed of a low thermal conductivity material, with the high thermal conductivity material having a thermal conductivity at least twice, and preferably five times, that of the thermal conductivity of the low thermal conductivity material. This disparity in thermal conductivity between the top plate and bottom plate materials may be referred to herein as asymmetric thermal performance.

Thermoelectric cooler (TEC) having top and bottom plates with asymmetric thermal conductivity and an optical subassembly implementing the same

The present disclosure is generally directed to a laser subassembly for use in a TOSA module that includes an integrated impedance matching network to enable a plurality of selectable resistance configurations to ensure the driving circuit and laser emitter of the TOSA module have matching, or substantially matching, impedances. The laser subassembly includes a substrate with a driving circuit disposed thereon. The driving circuit includes signal conductors for electrically coupling to an external transmit connecting circuit, a conductive laser mounting section, and an impedance matching network. The impedance matching network includes a plurality of resistors, with one or more of the resistors being selectively electrically coupled to the conductive laser mounting section to introduce a selected amount of impedance to minimize or otherwise reduce reflection.

Laser subassembly having impedance-matching network integrated on laser submount and a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) implementing same

A coaxial transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) including a side-by-side laser diode and monitor photodiode package, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, may be used in an optical transceiver for transmitting an optical signal at a channel wavelength. In an embodiment, the coaxial TOSA includes a laser sub-mount coupled to a mounting region defined by a body of the coaxial TOSA. The laser sub-mount includes a monitor photodiode disposed adjacent to a side of a laser diode such that a sensor region of the monitor photodiode is disposed within, or in close proximity to, a light cone emitted by a light emitting surface of the laser diode. The monitor photodiode is thus configured to directly receive a portion of emitted channel wavelengths from the laser diode for monitoring purposes.

Coaxial transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) including side-by-side laser diode and monitor photodiode arrangement

A coaxial transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) including a cuboid type TO laser package may be used in an optical transceiver for transmitting an optical signal at a channel wavelength. The cuboid type TO laser package is made of a thermally conductive material and has substantially flat outer surfaces that may be thermally coupled to substantially flat outer surfaces on a transceiver housing and/or on other cuboid type TO laser packages. An optical transceiver may include multiple coaxial TOSAs with the cuboid type TO laser packages stacked in the transceiver housing. The cuboid type TO laser package may thus provide improved thermal characteristics and a reduced size within the optical transceiver.

Coaxial transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) with cuboid type to laser package and optical transceiver including same

A coaxial transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) with optical isolator alignment correction may be used in an optical transceiver for transmitting an optical signal at a channel wavelength. The coaxial TOSA includes an optical fiber coupling receptacle extending from a laser package. The laser package may include a laser diode and a lens to focus laser light emitted from the laser diode onto an optical fiber. The laser diode and lens are aligned along a first longitudinal axis of the laser package parallel to a transmission path of the laser light. An optical isolator located in the transmission path is aligned along a second longitudinal axis of the laser package. The second longitudinal axis is coincident with a centerline of the laser package, and the first longitudinal axis is offset from the second longitudinal axis by a predetermined offset distance to compensate for light shifting characteristics of the isolator.

Alignment correction for optical isolator in a coaxial transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA)

In accordance with an embodiment, a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) module is disclosed with a base portion that provides one or more mounting surfaces to mount a laser diode and associated driver circuitry in close proximity to allow for direct coupling without the use of an intermediate interconnect device, such as a flexible printed circuit or other interconnect device. The TOSA module base further includes a cylindrical shaped portion with a passageway extending therethrough. The substantially cylindrical shaped portion allows the TOSA module base to mount to a multi-channel TOSA housing via a Z-ring or other suitable welding ring without the use of an intermediate device such as a welding cap.

Transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) module with integrated welding member for use in optical transmitters or transceivers

Techniques are disclosed for providing relatively short distances between multi-channel transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSAs) and associated transmit connecting circuit in order to reduce losses due to signal propagation delays, also sometimes referred to as signal flight time delays. In an embodiment, a TOSA includes a plurality of laser assemblies disposed along a same sidewall of the TOSA along a longitudinal axis. The TOSA may be disposed within an optical transceiver housing in a transverse orientation, whereby a longitudinal center line of the multi-channel TOSA is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the optical transceiver housing. The TOSA may be positioned adjacent an end of the optical transceiver housing having a transmit connecting circuit. Thus each of the plurality of laser assemblies may be positioned at a relatively short distance, e.g., 120 microns or less, away from the transmit connecting circuit.

Techniques for reducing electrical interconnection losses between a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) and associated driver circuitry and an optical transceiver system using the same

In an embodiment, an optical component assembly is disclosed and is configured to be at least partially disposed within at least one first opening of an optical subassembly housing. The at least one optical component assembly comprising a base extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, and a vertical mount disposed on the base and including a first surface that provides a mounting region to couple to an optical component, the first surface defining a vertical axis that extends substantially upright from the base and a horizontal axis that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the base at a first angle, the vertical mount further providing a channel that extends through the vertical mount, wherein the channel provides an optical pathway angled relative to the first surface at the first angle, the first angle being substantially between about 15 and 75 degrees.

Optical component assembly with a vertical mounting structure for multi-angle light path alignment and an optical subassembly using the same

The temperature at different locations along a multiplexed laser array may be monitored by sensing temperature at two locations within a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) package housing the laser array. The temperature at the two locations is used to determine a temperature tilt across the laser array. Estimated temperatures may then be determined at one or more other locations along the laser array from the temperature tilt. The estimated temperature(s) may then be used to adjust the temperature proximate the other locations, for example, for purposes of tuning lasers at those locations along the laser array to emit a desired channel wavelength. The TOSA package may be used in an optical transceiver in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical system, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) in a WDM passive optical network (PON).

Monitoring and controlling temperature across a laser array in a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) package

Layered coaxial transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSAs) with a support bridge therebetween may be used in an optical transmitter or transceiver for transmitting optical signals at multiple channel wavelengths. The coaxial TOSAs may include cuboid type TO laser packages having substantially flat outer surfaces that may be mounted on substantially flat outer surfaces on a transmitter or transceiver housing or on the support bridge. The support bridge supports and isolates one layer of the TOSAs mounted over another layer of the TOSAs such that the TOSAs may be stacked to fit within a small space without sacrificing optical coupling efficiency.

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Stafford, TX, United States of America

Chong Wang