Passively aligned opto-electronic coupling assembly

Abstract

There is disclosed herein an opto-electronic coupling assembly for optically coupling a light active area of an active device with an end face that is disposed at one end of an elongated light guide such that light is coupled between the end face of the light guide and the light active area of the active device. The coupling assembly includes a light guide end housing that defines a housing outline and which is adapted to support the end of the light guide including its end face. The opto-electronic coupling assembly further includes an active device package which itself includes an arrangement for supporting the active device and for providing external electrical connections to the active device. An encapsulant material surrounds the active device and at least partially surrounds the support arrangement. The encapsulant material is substantially optically transparent to the coupled light and is molded in a predetermined configuration which cooperates with the housing outline of the light guide end housing in a way that passively places the light active area of the active device into substantial optical alignment with the end face of the light guide when the light guide end housing is assembled with the active device package. In one alternative, the assembly may be configured for coupling an array of light guides with a corresponding array of individual and/or integrated active devices which are positioned in the active device package. In another alternative, the active device package may include different types of active devices arranged in a predetermined way relative to one or more light guides.