Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.

Applied Orthoelectronics, Inc.

I-Lung Ho

Chong Wang

Jun Zheng

Kai-Sheng Lin

Justin Lii

Luohan Peng

YongXuan Liang

Yi Wang

Hsiu-Che Wang

Qin Li

Che-Shou Yeh

Stefan J Murry

Hao-Hsiang Liao

Zhengyu Miao

Jianhong Luo

Kevin Liu

Hung-Lun Chang

Joyce Li

Klaus Alexander Anselm

Huanlin Zhang

Peng Nie

Elsie Marentes

Stella Liang Chen

Dion McIntosh-Dorsey

Haohui Mao

Shih-Chia Liu

Che-Shou (Richard) Yeh

Richard Yeh

Alvin T Herrera

The present disclosure is generally directed to a lens clip that defines at least one mounting surface for coupling to and supporting an array of optical components, e.g., a laser diode and associated components, and an optical lens slot to receive and securely hold an array of optical lenses at a predetermined position relative to the optical components to ensure nominal optical coupling. The optical lens slot includes dimensions that permit insertion of each optical lens into the same and restrict travel along one or more axis. Accordingly, disposing an optical lens within the lens slot ensures correct alignment along at least two axis, e.g., Z and X, with the third axis (e.g., Y) extending parallel along the slot to permit lateral adjustment of each lens.

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

In general, a TOSA consistent with the present disclosure includes a light driving circuit coupled to a hermetically-sealed light engine. The hermetically-sealed light engine includes a housing defined by a plurality of sidewalls. The housing defines a cavity that is hermetically-sealed to prevent introduction of contaminants that would otherwise reduce optical power. The hermetically-sealed light engine optically couples to an external arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), or other multiplexing device, by way of an optical receptacle. The optical receptacle can include a waveguide implemented external to the hermetically-sealed cavity and can include, for instance, an optical isolator, fiber stub, and fiber ferrule section. Thus, the external AWG and associated external optical coupling components advantageously allow for the hermetically-sealed light engine to have a cavity with dimensions relatively smaller than other approaches that dispose an AWG and associated components within a hermetically-sealed cavity.

Transmitter optical subassembly with hermetically-sealed light engine and external arrayed waveguide grating

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

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

In accordance with an embodiment, a welding assembly is disclosed that allows for a laser assembly to be coupled into a socket of the same and held at a fixed position, e.g., by a mechanical grabber of a welding system. The mechanical grabber may then travel along one or more axis to bring the TOSA module into mechanical alignment with an opening of an associated optical subassembly housing. The welding assembly may further include an alignment member that provides one or more alignment contact surfaces configured to be brought directly into contact with a surface of the associated subassembly housing. When the one or more alignment contact surfaces are 'flush' with the surface of the subassembly housing the emission face of the TOSA module is substantially parallel, and by extension, optically aligned with the opening of the associated subassembly housing.

Welding assembly for coupling a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) module to an optical transmitter or transceiver

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

The present disclosure is generally directed to a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) having a hermetically-sealed housing with a feedthrough device that electrically isolates RF and power traces. In more detail, a TOSA consistent with the present disclosure includes a substrate with driving circuitry disposed thereon. A first end of the substrate may electrically couple to transmit connecting circuitry and a second end may couple to a hermetically-sealed housing. The hermetically-sealed housing can include one or more laser packages for emitting associated channel wavelengths in addition to monitor photodiodes (PDs), and temperature control devices such as TECs. The hermetic-sealed housing includes a first end with a feedthrough device that provides traces to electrically couple to the circuitry of the substrate. The hermetic-sealed housing further includes an optical coupling port, e.g., a LC connector, for coupling to an external fiber, for example.

Transmitter optical subassembly with trace routing to provide electrical isolation between power and RF traces

Techniques for flexible coupling between an optical coupling receptacle/port of an optical transceiver housing and optical components within the same are disposed. In an embodiment, an optical transceiver housing includes an intermediate fiber with a first end optically coupled to an optical coupling port and a second end optically coupled to a multiplexer/de-multiplexer device, e.g., an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) device, PLC splitter, and so on. The intermediate fiber may be routed in the transceiver housing in a manner that and the radius of the bends may be optimized to reduce fiber bending losses. The techniques herein are equally applicable to both ROSA and TOSA modules and may be utilized to achieve flexible coupling for multi-channel transceiver devices.

Techniques for indirect optical coupling between an optical input/output port of a subassembly housing and an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) device disposed within the same

A transceiver module having a partitioned housing, e.g., a bifurcated or multi-segment housing, is disclosed that allows coupling and alignment of a TOSA arrangement and ROSA arrangement in separate respective portions in order to minimize or otherwise reduce component damage and rework iterations during manufacturing and repair. Technicians may thus perform at least partial assembly and testing of each optical subassembly arrangement in parallel and in relative isolation without necessarily interrupting and/or waiting on completion of the other. In a general sense, each separate portion of the partitioned housing provides a dedicated workspace of about equal dimension for coupling of subassembly components. Each separate portion may lie flat on a tabletop, for instance, which may further simplify manufacturing processes and provide a wide-range of acceptance angles for performing soldering, welding, insertion and coupling of components, visual inspection, fiber routing, and so on.

Optical transceiver module having a partitioned housing

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) including a ball lens may be used in an optical transceiver for transmitting an optical signal at a channel wavelength. The coaxial TOSA includes a laser package with a ball lens holder section defining a lens holder cavity that receives the ball lens. The lens holder cavity is dimensioned such that the ball lens is positioned in substantial alignment with the laser diode for optically coupling a laser output from the laser diode into an optical waveguide at an optical coupling end of the TOSA. The coaxial TOSA is thus configured to allow the less expensive ball lens to be used in a relatively small package when a lower coupling efficiency and power is desired and without substantial redesign of the TOSA.

Coaxial transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) including ball lens

A mirror device for use in an optical subassembly is disclosed that includes at least one surface with a visible indicator to allow a technician to differentiate a highly-reflective surface from relatively less reflective (e.g., un-coated) surfaces. The mirror device may be formed using known approaches, such as through the deposition of a metallic material on to a surface of the mirror device followed by one or more optional coating layers. Before, or after, forming the highly-reflective surface, a visual indicator may be introduced on to a surface of the mirror device that is opposite the highly-reflective surface. The visual indicator may comprise, for example, random scratches/scoring etched from a wire brush or tool, paint, epoxy, ink, or any other indicator that allows a technician to visually differentiate the portion of the mirror device having the visual indicator from the highly-reflective portion.

Mirror device with visual indicator to enable identification of highly-reflective region to ensure correct orientation of the same when disposed in an optical subassembly

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.

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Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

I-Lung Ho