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:
May. 04, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2002
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Abstract
Optical assemblies of the type supported on an optical bench and comprising a one or more components such as lasers, lenses, filters, isolators and waveguides, are sensitive to movement variation. One of the causes of movement is temperature tracking. Previously, thermo-electric coolers have been used to maintain the top-surface temperature of an optical bench within a certain range. However, although thermo-electric coolers are operable to maintain optical bench temperature they are themselves still sensitive to temperature tracking and can deform. Because an optical bench is typically supported on the top surface of a thermo-electric cooler this leads to deformation of the optical bench itself and as a result performance of the optical assembly is affected. An improved design of thermo-electric cooler is described where the top surface of the cooler is divided into separate regions, each having a neutral region in which deformation is minimal. A thermally conductive sheet is placed over each of these regions such that only one temperature monitor is required. Optical components are then supported over the thermally conductive sheet in the neutral regions.