American Telephone and Telegraph, Co.

At&t Technologies, Inc.

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Jan Lipson

Charles R Fegley

Ralph S Moyer

Thomas S Stakelon

Ghazi M Chaoui

An optical package includes a two-piece fiber subassembly which allows for separate axial and radial alignment of the fiber to the active optical device. The subassembly consists of an inner ferrule encasing the fiber and an outer sleeve which holds the ferrule. The ferrule is moved axially within the sleeve to perfect the axial alignment of the fiber and the device. The sleeve includes a number of openings around its circumference to expose the ferrule. Once axial alignment is achieved, the outer sleeve is attached to the ferrule through these openings to fix the axial alignment.

Optical package with improved fiber alignment fixture

A method of achieving radial (x,y) alignment between an active device subassembly and an optical fiber subassembly of an optical package is disclosed. The method relies on the use of mating sections with essentially identical outer diameters. The subassemblies are brought into contact and are first joined at the two points where the edges of the piece parts coincide (flush points). It has been determined that by continuing the attachment process at symmetric locations about one of the flush points, minimal disturbance of throughput efficiency will be maintained. The optical throughput is continually monitored to determined at which particular flush point the attachment process should proceed. In particular, as soon as the throughput efficiency drops below a predetermined value, the attachment process is rotated to continue at the opposite flush point.

Achieving improved radial alignment in an optical package

Growing community of inventors

Upper Macungie Township, PA, United States of America

Jan Lipson