The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 20, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1999
Mindaugas Fernand Dautartas, Alburtis, PA (US);
Joseph Michael Freund, Fogelsville, PA (US);
Dennis Stefanik, Weisenberg Township Lehigh County, PA (US);
Agere Systems Optoelectronics Guardian Corp., Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
A self-aligned 1×N fiber optic switch uses silicon optical bench technology to provide the alignment between the single fiber and the “selected” one-out-of-N fibers. A first substrate stack is used to support the single fiber, using a via etched through the thickness of the stack, and includes alignment fiducials formed on the top surface thereof. A second substrate stack is used to similarly support an array of N fibers, the array disposed in a circular arrangement with respect to the top surface of the second substrate stack. A set of alignment fiducials is also formed on the top surface of the second substrate stack. One alignment feature includes a “centering” fiducial to allow for the two stacks to be properly aligned. Another alignment fiducial includes a circular channel, having a diameter greater than that of a fiber array, and allowing for alignment sphere to “rest” in the channel when the substrate stacks are mated. The movement of the alignment sphere in the channel provides for controlled “switching” between fibers in the circular array of N fibers.