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:
Sep. 27, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2003
Vlad Novotny, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Vlad Novotny, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Active Optical Networks, Inc., Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
Fiber, lens and sensor arrays and their precision alignment for optical devices with free space light propagation is disclosed Fabrication methods of arrays and their assembly are also proposed. In one implementation, a device includes a fiber alignment module holding fibers in parallel to form a fiber array. The fiber alignment module includes first and second alignment plates, and a spacer plate engaged between the first and the second alignment plates. Each alignment plate includes an array of through holes to respectively hold the fibers. A lens array can be engaged to the fiber alignment module to align lenses to their corresponding fibers. Passive alignment features may be formed at interfacing surfaces of different layers to assist the alignment. Applications of these integrated fiber, lens and sensor arrays to optical cross connect switches and reconfigurable add drop multiplexers are also disclosed.