Optical Communication Products, Inc.

Optical Communications Products, Inc.

Mark Stiehl

Dale Isaacson

Carl W Embry

Timothy Bingaman

Michael Tartaglia

Michael Dudek

Blake Jonathan Mynatt

William Kit Dean

Jason Yorks

Steven Anderson

Kevin Malone

Richard J Adams

Dennis King

Christine Mollenkopf

Lance Thompson

Tess Abidi

Robert A Arnold

George W Jarriel, Jr

Craig Mynatt

Allen Tracy

Mark Eginton

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

A sealing feature for a multiple-piece housing for optoelectronic devices. The housing provides EMI shielding and axial stain suppression for optical fibers coupled to optoelectronic devices retained within the housing. In an exemplary embodiment, the scaling feature includes a corrugated channel having a cross-sectional area that varies along the longitudinal direction of said channel and the channel retains a gasket having a substantially constant cross-sectional area. The corrugated channel, which receives the gasket, includes varying wide and narrow sections. The sealing feature provides for sufficient compression throughout the gasket and a tight, EMI-shielding seal formed between the pieces of the housing.

Optical subassembly enclosure

A housing for optoelectronic devices provides EMI shielding and axial strain suppression for optical fibers coupled to optoelectronic devices retained within the housing. The housing includes an internal septum for EMI shielding and a grounding scheme including relief features of the conductive housing coupled to internal grounding strips. The housing provides a first exemplary engaging/locking feature including an orthogonal tongue and a groove that receives the tongue, and a second exemplary engaging/locking feature that includes a groove having an intermittently varying cross-sectional area and that retains a gasket of constant cross-sectional area. Arms extend from tho housing and retain an optical fiber that is secured to the arm by an adhesive such that axial strain is not exerted at the point of optical coupling and a high optical coupling efficiency is maintained. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing includes an opening through a bottom surface, the opening bounded by beveled edges to aid in blind alignment of the housing over components formed on a mounting surface. The bottom of the housing includes a recessed portion that retains a gasket. The recessed portion receives a gasket of constant thickness and includes a gap of varying thickness that provides for sufficient compression throughout the gasket and a tight, EMI-shielding seal formed between the housing and the mounting surface.

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 method and apparatus for encapsulating optoelectronic devices provides for accurately positioning and shaping an encapsulant by actively referencing the device die upon which the optoelectronic devices are formed. A molding tool is accurately aligned to the optoelectronic devices in the x, y and &thgr; directions using mechanical guides and is aligned in the z direction by actively referencing the device die. The shaped encapsulant is preferably an angled wedge having a minimum thickness over the optoelectronic devices to provide a high coupling efficiency and an increased thickness in other portions to fully encapsulate wire bond connections, for example. The method also provides for using the mechanical guides to align and couple optical fibers to the optoelectronic devices. In one exemplary embodiment, the end face of the optical fiber forms a conterminous interface with the top surface of the encapsulant, and the interface is obliquely angled with respect to the surface of the device die.

Plastic encapsulation of optoelectronic devices for optical coupling

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, CO, United States of America

Mark Stiehl