Rockwell International Corporation

Plessey Overseas Limited

Peter J Morgan

Andrew L Moore

Richard Davis

Michael Wald

Andrew Cannon Carter

Robert O Miller

Robert C Goodfellow

Frederick A Randle

Pramode Kandpal

A laser signal coupling device one embodiment of which comprises a transmitter where a laser diode is coupled to a single mode fiber optic cable through the use of a lens whose position relative the diode is kept constant but whose length is adjusted to obtain a beam waist for the focused beam at some predefined point such as inside the end of the fiber optic cable. Such a positioning of the beam waist can increase the yield by reducing the effect of alignment variations in axial, radial and angular directions as well as reduce noise from fiber end surface reflections. The same concept may be used to accurately focus signaling received from an optic cable, in a surface of a signal detector. Further, the concept may be used for focusing between optic cable of different types such as converting from multi-mode to single-mode fiber optic cable.

Method and apparatus for obtaining a simplified electro-optical signal

Precisely controlled grooves are formed in a semiconductor wafer as part of a total photolithographic process of producing the circuitry and the V-grooves for precise registration of the circuitry relative the edges of the individual chips of the wafer. The same registration facilitates automated electrical testing of each of the chip circuits on the wafer prior to the controlled disassembly of the array of chips into individual die. The design of the electrical connections on the array before disassociation into individual die also facilitates a mass burn-in of the circuits which burn-in tends to identify and eliminate parts subject to early failure.

Semiconductor chip production and testing processes

An electro-optical module for facilitating connection between a fiber optic cable connector and an electrical circuit includes an interlocking tongue-and-groove design between the skirts of the module and an electro-optical active device. Within the electro-optical active device, a lens provides hermetic sealing to the case so as to eliminate the requirement for an additional window. A barrel providing partial enclosure for the lens is used to facilitate alignment with the fiber optic cable. Finally, the total module includes mechanisms so that exact spacing is obtained between the light source and the end of the fiber optic cable whereby the beam waist of the light when the device is used in the transmission mode occurs interior to the cable rather than at the surface to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, bending forces and to reduce noise generated by reflections, etc.

Optical module connector apparatus

A relatively large scale low cost method of fabricating optical devices with associated coupling lenses comprises the following steps:

Fabrication of optical devices

Optical connecting arrangements

Growing community of inventors

Allen, TX, United States of America

Peter J Morgan