Optical Communication Products, Inc.

Kevin Malone

Blake Jonathan Mynatt

Dale Isaacson

Mark Stiehl

William Kit Dean

Jason Yorks

Richard J Adams

Rich Adams

Tess Abidi

Robert A Arnold

George W Jarriel, Jr

Joachim Eldring

Christine Mollenkopf

Lance Thompson

Jeffrey Winfield Scott

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

A method for making a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) is provided. In the method, an alignment in the Z-direction between a fiber stub array (FSA) and a VCSEL array is performed first. Then, an alignment in the X-Y direction is performed. A rough prealignment in the X-Y direction may also be performed prior to the alignment in Z-direction. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array may be hermetically sealed using a lens assembly or by using a separate lid assembly. The hermetic sealing and attaching of different components may be achieved by laser welding and/or soldering or any other suitable method.

Method for making hermetically sealed transmitter optical subassembly

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 monitoring the optical power output of a VCSEL uses refracted ray coupling to direct rays refracted out of an optical transmission medium, towards a photodetector. The photodetector is coupled to feedback circuitry and laser control circuitry capable of adjusting the VCSEL based on the monitored power output. A portion of the rays that enter the optical fiber are refracted out of the optical fiber by means of high-index materials and directed toward the photodetector by reflective surfaces situated around the coupling region in which the VCSEL is coupled to the optical fiber.

VCSEL monitoring using refracted ray coupling

During assembly of a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA), an alignment in Z-direction between a fiber stub array (FSA) and a VCSEL array is performed first, then an alignment in X-Y direction is performed. A rough pre-alignment in X-Y direction may also be performed prior to the alignment in Z-direction. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array may be hermetically sealed using a lens assembly or by using a separate lid assembly. The hermetic sealing and attaching of different components may be achieved by laser welding and/or soldering or any other suitable method.

Hermetically sealed transmitter optical subassembly

An optical subassembly (OSA) includes a ferrule, an optical fiber, a ceramic substrate, and a seal coupled to the ceramic substrate. A weld sleeve is used to fixably couple the ferrule to the seal ring, for which the weld sleeve may be laser welded to the ferrule and/or the seal ring. The OSA may be a transmitter OSA or a receiver OSA, and may be hermetically sealed.

High-speed optical sub-assembly utilizing ceramic substrate, direct coupling and laser welding

An optical subassembly configured to passively align an optical fiber with an optical device. The optical subassembly including a submount having a guide hole with a first tapered portion for guiding an optical fiber into a second portion of substantially constant cross section, wherein the second portion aligns the optical fiber with the optical device.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Kevin Malone