Optical Communication Products, Inc.

Dale Isaacson

Mark Stiehl

Carl W Embry

Michael Dudek

Timothy Bingaman

Michael Tartaglia

Kevin Malone

Steven Anderson

Jeffrey Winfield Scott

Blake Jonathan Mynatt

William Kit Dean

Jason Yorks

Richard J Adams

Christine Mollenkopf

Lance Thompson

Tess Abidi

Robert A Arnold

George W Jarriel, Jr

Craig Mynatt

Allen Tracy

Mark Eginton

Tehseen Abidi

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical interface unit provides an interface between an optoelectronic device and industry standard MTP/MPO connectors. The optical interface unit axially aligns the core of a fiber with the optoelectronic device and interfaces that fiber to the standardized connector. In addition, the optical interface unit further provides a standardized interface for visible contact connection between the individual fiber stubs and the terminated fibers in the standardized connector. The optical interface unit therefore maximizes coupling from the optoelectronic device with the standardized connector.

Optical interface unit

A multilayer ceramic carrier for an optical element includes a terraced cavity for retaining a vertically receiving or vertically emitting optical element. The multilayer ceramic carrier includes conductive traces interposed between the ceramic layers and which extend into the terraced cavity along the trenches formed in the cavity. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser or vertically receiving optical element is wire bonded to the conductive traces which extend into the cavity. In one embodiment, the terraced cavity of the multilayer ceramic carrier includes a VCSEL and photodetector therein, the photodetector capable of monitoring the output optical power of the VCSEL. The method for forming the multilayer ceramic carrier includes forming a plurality of layers of ceramic tape, joining the layers, then co-firing the stacked layers. The multilayer ceramic carrier is joined to a plastic optical housing which includes an aperture for securing an optical fiber. The fiber launch direction is generally orthogonal to the optical surface of the vertically emitting or vertically receiving optical element secured within the ceramic carrier. The optical subassembly comprising the plastic optical housing and ceramic carrier is mounted on the surface of a printed circuit board or adjacent the edge of a printed circuit board, such that the light emitted or detected by the optical element, preferably travels along a fiber launch direction parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board. The optical assembly may be joined to the printed circuit board using various connectors capable of carrying an electrical signal.

High speed optical subassembly with ceramic carrier

An apparatus and method for monitoring the optical output of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELS) utilizes a portion of light emitted by the VCSEL and scatters and/or reflects this portion of emitted light so that it is directed towards a detecting surface of a photodetector. In one embodiment, scattering elements may be incorporated within the epoxy or other coupling medium used to couple the VCSEL to the optical fiber. In another embodiment, the VCSEL may be coupled to an optical fiber secured within a ferrule which has an end surface capable of reflecting or scattering light and directing the light towards the photodetector. In another embodiment, a reflective integrating member may be alternatively or additionally used to reflect a portion of the emitted light to the photodetector. The photodetector, in conjunction with electrical circuitry to which it is coupled, develops an electrical signal which may be provided to laser control means to control and adjust the optical output of the VCSELs.

Apparatus and method for VCSEL monitoring using scattering and reflecting of emitted light

A method and apparatus for coupling light from an array of optoelectronic devices to a corresponding array of fibers contained in a fiber optic ferrule is disclosed. The fibers may be single-mode or multi-mode optical fibers. The method includes fixing the fiber optic ferrule to the optical subassembly (OSA) base upon which the array of optoelectronic devices will be affixed, aligning the array of optoelectronic devices to the corresponding array of fibers, then securing the array of optoelectronic devices to the OSA base. In one embodiment, the module includes an optical subassembly module housing a linear array of 1300 nm VCSELs or photodetectors, spaced apart at a 250 micron pitch to correspond to the spacing of optical fibers in a conventional MT ferrule. The array of optoelectronic devices is mounted on a substrate assembly that includes a weldable surface and one or more photodetectors for automatic power control. After the components are aligned, the substrate assembly is affixed to the OSA base by epoxying or welding. The material within the substrate assembly is transparent to the emitted light or includes a notch or hole that allows light to pass through, in order to facilitate the integral placement of the monitor within the substrate assembly and beneath the material.

VCSEL array optical subassembly module with alignment mechanism

A plastic encapsulated VCSEL and power monitoring system wherein the VCSEL and photodetector are encapsulated in an optoelectronic plastic molding material. A tilted window, with a partially reflective coating on one side, is attached to the top of the plastic molding material using an epoxy with a refractive index that substantially matches the molding material. The plastic encapsulated VCSEL and photodetector may be manufactured at low cost using standard molding techniques. The high optical quality of the tilted window and partially reflective coating provide an excellent surface to reflect a portion of the optical beam back to the photodetector. Also, the tilted window substantially reduces inconsistent power monitoring due to beam divergence and walk-off.

VCSEL power monitoring system using plastic encapsulation techniques

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Idaho Springs, CO, United States of America

Dale Isaacson