Abstract: A packaging assembly (10) for a photonic device (12) including a bulkhead connector (40) that eliminates the fiber pigtail in the prior art. The photonic device (12) is mounted within a cavity (14) of a housing (16) and is optically aligned with a lensed end (18) of a fiber (20). The fiber (20) extends into and is soldered to a cylindrical ferrule (24). The fibered ferrule (24) is positioned within an opening (28) extending through an outer wall (30) of the housing (16) so that it extends outside of the housing (16). The ferrule (24) is soldered to the housing (16) in a hermetic seal. The bulkhead connector (40) is mounted to the housing (16) in a position where the fibered ferrule (24) extends partially into a bore (60) extending through the connector (40). An optical connector (64) attaches to the connector (40) so that a fiber (68) extending from the optical connector (64) is inserted in the bore (60) and aligns with the fibered ferrule (24).

Abstract: A method of aligning a photonic device (12) to an optical fiber (20) with sub-micron accuracy. The photonic device packaging assembly (10) includes a housing (16) defining a cavity (14) therein, where the photonic device (12) is mounted within the cavity (14). A single mode fiber (20) having a lensed end (18) is inserted into the cavity (14) to be aligned with the photonic device (12). A fiber (20) extends into a cylindrical ferrule (24) and is soldered therein such that a polished end (26) of the fiber (12) opposite the lensed end (18) is flush with an end to the ferrule (24). The ferrule (24) extends through an opening (28) in the housing (16). A flange (36) is positioned around the ferrule (24) and is welded to an outside wall (42) of the housing (16). An alignment process is used to align the optical fiber (20) to the photonic device (12) with sub-micron accuracy. The fiber (20) is aligned in a Z-direction and then the ferrule (24) is optically welded to the flange (36).

Abstract: A vacuum chuck (34) for holding thin sheet material, particularly during high-temperature manufacturing processes, and an apparatus (10) for forming a substantially uniform coating of a substance on a thin sheet material. The vacuum chuck includes a chuck body (36) having a gas-permeable support surface (38) for supporting the thin sheet material to define a vacuum chamber (49) having an inlet (54), a valve member (56) for controlling fluid flow through the vacuum chamber inlet, and a locking shim (58) for holding the valve member in the vacuum chamber inlet.