Abstract: A low-cost molded sleeve for a fiber optic cable connector receptacle is disclosed. The inner surface of the sleeve, into which a fiber optic connector can be inserted, is defined by three surfaces. A first planar surface and a second planar surface at right angles to each other form a V-shaped groove for holding the a fiber optic connector. Clamping action is applied to a third surface to hold the a fiber optic connector in place in the V-shaped groove such that optical coupling is achieved.

Abstract: A motion control stage assembly includes a payload assembly and a base assembly joined together with connecting elements. The connecting elements provide degenerate support between the base and the payload such that a desired trajectory of the payload with respect to the base is relatively unconstrained. The connecting element assemblies are substantially planar, and each includes a first connecting element with a first intermediate point, a second connecting element with a second intermediate point, and a secondary connecting element that joins the first and second connecting elements at the first and second intermediate points. The first and the second connecting elements may be formed integrally with each other, of materials including a semiconductor material, a resilient metal or a plastic, and by processes including micromachining, wire-electrical-discharge machining, or injection molding.

Abstract: A V-groove is formed in a platform of single crystal silicon by anisotropic wet etching based on its crystal orientation, and a convexity of an optical element chip is fitted in an intermediate portion of the V-groove. Quadrangular frustoidal convexities are formed in rows and columns on a single crystal silicon wafer by anisotropic wet etching, then a photonic crystal filter element is formed as an optical element on the protruding end face of each convexity, and the wafer is cut for each optical element into individual optical element chips. When optical fibers are disposed in the V-groove at both sides of the chip, cores of the optical fibers and light inlet and outlet ports of the optical element are aligned with each other.

Abstract: An assembly includes a substrate, a device coupled to the substrate; a ring formed on the substrate; and one or more bonding pads formed on the substrate, wherein the ring and bonding pads are formed of a same material.

Abstract: A method for precisely aligning a first optical component to a second optical component that is coupled to a substrate. At least one of a number of coupling elements is modified to attach the first optical component to the substrate. An optical coupling quality of the first optical component to the second optical component is determined. At least one of the modified coupling elements that couples the first optical component to the substrate is micro-manipulated to precisely align the first optical component with the second optical component and improve the optical coupling quality.

Abstract: Optical components may be precisely positioned in three dimensions with respect to one another. A bonder which has the ability to precisely position the components in two dimensions can be utilized. The components may be equipped with contacts at different heights so that as the components come together in a third dimension, their relative positions can be sensed. This information may be fed back to the bonder to control the precise alignment in the third dimension.

Abstract: An optical module comprises: a sub-mount 1, having four photodiodes 12 and two guide grooves 10 disposed on an optical element mounting surface 16; a fiber fixing member 2, having four V-grooves 21, four concave mirrors 22, and two guide rails 20 disposed on an optical fiber fixing surface 26; and four optical fibers 3, fixed to the fiber fixing member 2. With this optical module, the sub-mount 1 and fiber fixing member 2 are aligned and fixed by the fitting together of the guide grooves 10 and guide rails 20. A passive alignment type optical module that enables mass production and cost reduction is thus realized.

Abstract: A free-space optically-coupled collimator for the efficient bidirectional transmission of an optical metrology beam emanating from a waveguide aperture of a waveguide optical transmission element, all contained in an isothermal nested enclosure, with the waveguide element mounted in a stress-free fashion. The focus of the collimator is set at the waveguide aperture of the waveguide optical transmission element, the optical axis of the collimator aligns with the optical metrology beam as it exits the waveguide aperture of the waveguide optical transmission element, and the numeric aperture of the collimator is equal to or larger than the numeric aperture of the optical metrology beam as it exits the waveguide aperture of the waveguide optical transmission element.

Abstract: An optical waveguide mounting member for mounting to a substrate is disclosed. The optical waveguide mounting member includes an optical waveguide for transmitting optical signals therethrough and an optical waveguide mounting base material having a through-hole to which the optical waveguide is mounted. The optical waveguide mounting base material is formed of silicon.

Abstract: Avoiding an illumination light irregularity to the utmost under increasing degree of integration and the memory capacity by suppressing a light amount irregularity on the illumination pupil plane to the utmost, unable to be adjusted by a conventional method. When the light amount irregularity on the illumination pupil plane which is the exit surface of the optical fiber is relatively large, focus of the imaging surface of the CCD camera is switched from the sample to the illumination pupil plane by a focus switching lens. The light amount irregularity is calculated and analyzed by the image processor. Based on the analyzed result, the exit surface position of the optical fiber is adjusted in the illumination optical system. In this manner, the illumination pupil plane which is the exit surface of the optical fiber can be adjusted to an illumination pupil plane where the light amount irregularity is small.

Abstract: A method for providing an optical interface with at least one optical coupling structure for a packaged optical device is described. The at least one optical coupling structure may be, for example, wave-guides and/or microlenses. The packaged optical device includes an external alignment structure. The external alignment structure has a support means with at least one hole and at least one alignment feature. The method includes providing optical encapsulate material in the hole of the support means. Optical coupling structures, such as wave-guides or microlenses, may be provided into the encapsulation at a well-defined position relative to the at least one alignment feature of the external alignment structure. By providing the optical coupling structures directly in the material comprised in the encapsulation, a high degree of alignment accuracy is obtained.

Abstract: In a bidirectional optical communications module capable of all-dual-mode communications using a single optical fiber, interference due to internally scattered light is reduced by forming a diverging area on a periphery of a transmission lens and providing a thin film reflection mirror which collects incoming light. A inexpensive, compact bidirectional optical communications module can be offered with reduced interference between outgoing and incoming light, especially, interference due to internally scattered light.

Abstract: For connecting an optical fiber having a fiber axis and an axial end portion provided with a chamfered surface having a predetermined angle with respect to the fiber axis, the optical connector includes an aligning member and a holding plate. The aligning member has a principal surface and a side surface adjacent to the principal surface. The aligning member has a fiber-receiving groove for receiving the axial end portion of the optical fiber. The fiber-receiving groove extends along the principal surface in a predetermined direction and has end portions each opening on the side surface. The holding plate is faced to the principal surface and covers the fiber-receiving groove. The holding plate has a first slant surface beside one of end portions of the fiber-receiving groove. The first slant surface has an angle with respect to the principal surface. The first angle is determined smaller than the predetermined angle.

Abstract: The invention features an apparatus including a first portion defining an optical axis and configured to connect to an optical fiber, a second portion having a reference surface configured to connect with a terminal, and a third portion between the first and second portions. The third portion bends more easily than either the first or second portion to permit adjustable alignment of the optical axis relative to the reference surface.

Abstract: An optical package suitable for alignment with a conductively coated optical fiber includes a base having an electrode which forms a capacitance with the conductively coated optical fiber. An optical alignment system computes a capacitance measure when the optical fiber is precisely aligned and further after attachment of the fiber to the package causes a misalignment. The capacitance measures at precise alignment and at misalignment allow computation of a displacement amount from the precise alignment in at least one direction. The optical fiber may be adjusted according to the direction and amount provided by the alignment system to reposition the fiber to its precise alignment.

Abstract: An optical module is provided in which recesses are formed in a sol-gel layer applied to a surface of a lens array substrate, each of the recesses having a capability to fit an optical fiber therein. The optical module comprises a planar microlens array substrate having a plurality of microlenses formed in one surface thereof; and an alignment recess array including a plurality of alignment recesses which are formed in a material applied to the other surface of the microlens array substrate by means of a mold with the center of each alignment recess being aligned to the center of a corresponding one of the microlens. The optical module may comprise a plurality of optical fibers each end thereof is adhered to the alignment recesses.

Abstract: Samples are taken of radiation throughput intensities while a radiation supplying, first element advances along a dithering displacement path, where the displacement path is spaced slightly away from but extends adjacent to an initial position of the first element and while a reference radiation signal is coupled radiatively between the first element and a counterpart, radiation receiving, second element. Those samples that are seen to be the greatest (Imaxc) are identified. From this information, a determination is made of at least the approximate direction, if not the approximate length of an optimization vector which separates the initial position of the first element from a radiative coupling, new position having a greater coupling efficiency. The first element is automatically moved according to the optimization vector so as to be at or substantially close to the new radiative coupling position.

Abstract: A first guiding mechanism is formed by the interior shape of an engagement portion of a plug housing and the exterior shape of an engagement portion of a receptacle housing, to be guided and inserted into the engagement portion. A second guiding mechanism is formed by guide posts and guide holes. A third guiding mechanism is formed by the interior shape of the engagement portion of the receptacle housing and the exterior shapes of first multi core ferrules of the plug side optical connector, to be inserted into the engagement portion of the receptacle housing. A fourth guiding mechanism is formed by guide pins of second multi core ferrules and guide pin apertures, for receiving the guide pins of the first multi core ferrules. The first, second, third, and fourth guiding mechanisms operate in this order during engagement of a receptacle side optical connector and a plug side optical connector.

Abstract: A substrate on which cavities having floors and steps is provided. End faces of a light-emitting device, an optical component, and an optical transmission line are abutted on one of the cavity for positioning, and end faces of a light-receiving device, an optical component, and an optical transmission line are also abutted on the other cavity for positioning. Integrated alignment of optical axes facilitates alignment of optical axes, and thus eliminates the need of a CAN package. Accordingly, the size and height of an optical communications module can be reduced.

Abstract: An optoelectronic assembly includes an optical lens element (OLE) coupled to a substrate. The substrate includes a transducer, a standing structure on the transducer, a transducer lens supported by the standing structure over the transducer, and alignment features. The OLE includes an OLE lens and co-alignment features that couple with the alignment features on the optoelectronic assembly. When the substrate is coupled to the OLE, the transducer lens is aligned with the OLE lens.

Abstract: A flexure arrangement, suitable for use with or as part of, e.g., an optical beam steering arrangements, and intended for supporting and transmitting movement to any appropriate element, the arrangement including a first flexure to which movement is applied, a second flexure which attaches the arrangement to any appropriate supporting structure, structure linking the first flexure to the second flexure and structure for receiving any appropriate element, the first and second flexure being appropriately spaced so that any movement applied to the first flexure is amplified by the flexure arrangement.

Abstract: A module for coupling to a fiber-optic cable includes an optoelectronic assembly that includes a bracket and a metal receptacle. The metal receptacle includes an attachment member operable to releasably connect the receptacle to the bracket, an alignment end operable to receive an alignment device, and a connector end operable to releasably connect to the fiber-optic cable and to orient the cable with the alignment device. The metal receptacle can suppress EMI and can typically withstand higher temperatures than most plastic materials. Thus, when subject to high temperatures, the receptacle typically will not expel gas that can fog a lens or deform. The attachment member allows one to releasably connect the receptacle to an optoelectronic assembly without fixing the receptacle to the assembly with adhesive. Thus, the receptacle can be mounted to an optoelectronic assembly quickly and without an alignment fixture.

Abstract: A MEMS-based optical steering apparatus for free space optical transmitters, receivers, and transceivers is disclosed. The MEMS device comprises actuators linked to an optic fiber, the actuators operable to maneuver the optical fiber in the X-Y plane at the focal point of the transmitter, receiver, or transceiver. The MEMS device may thus be used to replace gimbals for beam steering applications.

Abstract: An X, Y positioning unit, mount or fixture is designed to adjust the position of an optical element mounted in the fixture so as to move it laterally and vertically with respect to the optical axis of the element, such that, once adjusted, the position is maintained through the clamping of plates about the positioning fixture to lock the hinges against movement. In this manner the adjusted position of the optical element is locked in by van der Wall forces exerted by the plates on the fixture, with the locking technique not affecting the alignment. In one embodiment, the fixture includes live hinges which join an optical element holder to a fixed plate and pivot the holder about orthogonal axes crossing at the center of an optical element holder.

Abstract: A substrate assembly for supporting an optical component includes a substrate having a front surface and a first recess, a second recess formed portion disposed in the first recess and having a second recess smaller in diameter than the first recess and having an open end at least at a side corresponding to the front surface, the second recess formed portion being made of a material having a machinability better than a material forming the substrate, and an alignment guide member fitted in the second recess and having a protruded portion protruding from the front surface of the ceramic substrate and fittingly engageable in an alignment hole of the optical component. A method of producing such a substrate assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an element connecting apparatus with which the position of a core of each element in an optical transmission module in a short time with high accuracy. To attain the object, in a core position detection method according to the present invention, upon detecting a core of a PLC chip, parallel light is made incident on the output side end face of the PLC chip, so that the core position is detected based on an image of the input side end face obtained with the parallel light. In addition, the core position is detected by an image of the output side end face that is obtained while parallel light is made incident on the input side end face.

Abstract: A substrate for mounting an optical element having a light emission/reception part is disclosed. The substrate includes a base material and an optical waveguide penetrating through the base material. The optical waveguide is positioned opposite to the light emission/reception part. The base material is formed of silicon.

Abstract: A module for an optical wavelength division multiplexing communication includes semiconductor lasers emitting lights of wavelengths, a support member on which the semiconductor lasers are mounted, an optical fiber to which the lights emitted from the semiconductor lasers are incident, and a component that positions the optical fiber with respect to the support member and fixes the optical fiber thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical waveguide having a curved reflecting mirror surface for optical coupling and a method of manufacturing it. The method of manufacturing an optical waveguide includes the steps of coating a transparent glass substrate with a photosensitive material; radiating ultraviolet rays onto the photosensitive material through a mask in which the shape of the optical waveguide and partition blocks formed beside ends of the optical waveguide are patterned; manufacturing a photoresist stamp by developing patterns onto which the ultraviolet ray has been radiated through the mask; forming a PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS) mold by coating the photo stamp with PDMS, and forming a core; forming the optical waveguide, in which the partition blocks are formed beside the ends thereof, using the PDMS mold; and dropping liquid polymer between the partition blocks formed beside the ends of the optical waveguide using an inkjet header and hardening it.

Abstract: A method for connecting optical signals carried by optical fibers between an optical encoder readhead and an optical signal processing IC having a plurality of photodetector portions arranged in a photodetector configuration. The optical signal processing IC is fixed to a substrate at a first position and orientation. Then, a reference-surface block including at least one reference surface is fixed to the substrate in a second orientation and position based on the first position and orientation. A fiber-optic end piece is provided, which has at least one corresponding-reference surface and a plurality of optical fiber locating features that are arranged relative to the corresponding-reference surface. A plurality of the optical fibers are fixed to the plurality of optical fiber locating features to provide a coupling configuration of optical fiber ends that nominally matches the photodetector configuration.

Abstract: A backlight module having separate display regions includes integrally-farmed frames, a first and a second engaging structures, and multiple sets of optical components. The frames are constructed to define multiple accommodation spaces corresponding to the positions of the display regions, and the first engaging structure is provided on the frames. Each set of the optical components includes a light source, a light guide, a diffuser, and a brightness enhancing film. The second engaging structure is provided on the optical components and coupled to the first engaging structure.

Abstract: An optical structure includes a substrate for receiving an optical device. The substrate may hold waveguide reference surfaces for vertical alignment of the device to a waveguide core of the substrate. A carrier for holding the optical device has contact surface parts for holding the optical device and for mounting the carrier to an optical device receiving substrate.

Abstract: A fiber optic module is provided that effectively reduces a returned light and is manufactured by a low time and cost consuming process and electronic equipment. The fiber optic transceiver module includes a block that includes an optical waveguide and a guide that is provided to one end of the optical waveguide and is a concave portion into which an optical fiber is inserted, and a micro tile-like element that includes a light emitting element or a light receiving element is attached to the block. A light emitting part of the light emitting element or a light receiving part of the light receiving element is disposed so as to face the other end of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes a branch having a blind end.

Abstract: Techniques for circuit board processing are provided. In one aspect, a method of processing a circuit board having one or more optical waveguides associated therewith is provided. The method comprises the following steps. One or more etch stop layers in proximity to the one or more waveguides are provided, at least one of the etch stop layers comprising one or more fiducials therein. From a surface of the circuit board, the one or more etch stop layers are used to selectively remove material to provide openings having a defined positioning and depth in the circuit board. A circuit board having one or more optical waveguides associated therewith is also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns optical components such as optical signal transmitter ports. One example of an optical signal transmitter port includes a nose body of single piece construction that has a bendable portion configured to facilitate alignment of an optical axis of the nose body with an optical axis of an optical signal associated with the optical signal transmitter port. The optical signal transmitter port further includes an optical source assembly having an optical signal housing within which is disposed an optical emitter such as a laser. The optical signal housing is partially received within the nose body.

Abstract: In an optical connector including an optical connector plug holding a first optical fiber and an optical connector plug holding a second optical fiber, the optical connector plugs cooperates with each other to obtain a connected state in which exposed longitudinal ends of the first and the second optical fibers are brought into contact with each other. The first optical fiber includes a long fiber portion and a short fiber portion higher in breakage resistance than the long fiber portion. One of the longitudinal ends of the short fiber is fused to one of longitudinal ends of the long fiber portion. Another of the longitudinal ends of the short fiber portion is exposed to serve as one of the exposed longitudinal ends.

Abstract: A passive alignment technique is disclosed to facilitate accurate positioning of components of an optical assembly. In one aspect, a method includes directing light onto components of an optical assembly in which a first component includes a first pattern of marks with a first frequency and a second component includes a second pattern of marks with a second different frequency. An optical signal corresponding to the superposition of the first and second patterns is detected. Based on the detected optical signal, a determination may be made as to whether the first and second components are properly positioned with respect to one another.

Abstract: In a fixing tool for fixing a fiber holding member to an optical fiber, a tool body receives the optical fiber and the fiber holding member. In this event, the fiber holding member is disposed on a first specific part of the optical fiber. A positioning device fixes a second specific part of the optical fiber to the tool body in the state where the optical fiber and the fiber holding member are received in the tool body. The second specific part is a portion between the first specific part and a longitudinal end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of aligning an optical fiber to a laser diode obtains first light from the laser at a point designated as the center of a planar geometric shape. Data points are taken at the vertices of the shape, whereby a scan measures alignment quality at each of the vertices and the center. The scan begins by obtaining data at the center and moves to a vertex and the remaining vertices in either a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion. Alignment qualities are compared and the location of highest alignment quality is designated as a new center. The scan repeats until the location of the new center remains unchanged, whereby the new center becomes the point of alignment. Alternately, the scan iteration may repeat with increased resolution by reducing the size of the geometric shape and/or increasing the power from the laser until a point of alignment is found at highest resolution.

Abstract: An improved system and method for attaching an optical fiber to a fiber array substrate involving adhesive-bonding an optical fiber's cladding directly to the substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-contained optical hybrid IC (OHIC) package for optical side-coupling to an optical waveguide of a printed wiring board (PWB). The OHIC package comprises an integrated circuit (IC) package. It also comprises a self-contained optical subassembly (OSA) having an optical coupling facet and being adapted to be bonded to the integrated circuit (IC) package, wherein the OSA comprises an optoelectronic device and an optical channel, the optoelectronic device being optically coupled to the optical channel, the optical channel relaying light between the optoelectronic device and the optical coupling facet, wherein the OSA is mechanically and electrically bonded to the IC package to thereby provide an electrical coupling between the optoelectronic device and the IC package and enable the optical side-coupling to the optical waveguide via the optical coupling facet. The invention also provides a method for creating the OHIC package.

Abstract: A method of controlling deflection of an optical beam at a beam steering element. The method comprises receiving switching instructions indicative of a target one of a plurality of potential transmit or receive elements; determining a control signal associated with the target transmit or receive element; and applying the control signal to the beam steering element, thereby to cause deflection of the optical beam. Deflection of optical beams on the basis of the determined control signal allows greater pointing accuracy. Also, a port card, comprising a plurality of optical transmitter elements operative to produce respective optical beams from the input optical signals; and an array of beam steering elements operative to controllably orient the optical beams into respective transmit directions. The port card also comprises a controller for controlling the beam steering elements of the array using, for example, the above method.

Abstract: An optical switch device for driving a movable member mounting a light reflection member thereon by a magnetic drive circuit, wherein, in an optical waveguide switching device (1) as an optical switch device, a movable member (2) mounting thereon an optical waveguide switching prism mirror (2) is driven in an X direction by a magnetic drive circuit while being floated from a fixing-side member (13) in order to improve stability of a light outputting position. When the movable member (2) is moved to a desired position in the X direction, power supply to solenoids (45, 46) is stopped in a clamp mechanism (40), and a clamp plate (41) presses the movable member (2) against the fixing-side member (13) to fix it. A V-groove (30) formed in the movable member (2) and a V-groove (31) formed in the fixing-side member (13) mesh each other to position the movable member (2) in the X direction.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which an alignment tool holds an optical fiber and an optical alignment component in place during induction soldering. The alignment tool has alignment adjustments for the optical fiber as well as the optical alignment component. An induction soldering station induction solders the optical fiber to the optical alignment component in order to secure the optical fiber to the optical alignment component.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of connecting an integrated optical waveguide circuit component to an optical fiber array. The invention includes the steps of: providing an integrated optical waveguide circuit component having an array of N wave guide ports for optical processing that contain a subset of u-waveguides (one or more) structures for optimizing optical alignment; providing an optical fiber array having an array of at least N optical fibers, and positioning the optical fiber array adjacent to the circuit component so that photons emitted from the optical fiber array ports are coupled into the respective individual corresponding u-waveguide port(s) and then back into the corresponding optical fiber coupling ends of the optical fiber array.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor laser module in which parasitic inductance due to the bonding wire is removed, accordingly, the high frequency performance thereof can be enhanced. The laser module of the present invention has a sub-mount, on which the semiconductor laser diode is installed and transmission lines for supplying the signal to the laser diode is formed. The transmission lines on the sub-mount are directly connected to corresponding lead pins provided in the base of the package without any bonding wires. Between the lead pins and under the sub-mount is provided a photo diode for monitoring light emitted from the laser diode.

Abstract: An optical panel system including stackable waveguides is provided. The optical panel system displays a projected light image and comprises a plurality of planar optical waveguides in a stacked state. The optical panel system further comprises a support system that aligns and supports the waveguides in the stacked state. In one embodiment, the support system comprises at least one rod, wherein each waveguide contains at least one hole, and wherein each rod is positioned through a corresponding hole in each waveguide.

Abstract: A polymer optical waveguide module has a submount, one of an emitter and a detector and an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is a polymer optical waveguide film obtained by using a mold, which has, on an identical end portion thereof, an optical-path converting mirror surface and an alignment surface. One of the emitter and detector as well as the polymer optical waveguide film are held on the submount. The polymer optical waveguide film is aligned on the submount by use of the alignment surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical coupling module for optically coupling an optical fiber with an optical waveguide, and a method of fabricating the optical coupling module. In an optical coupling module for optically coupling an optical network with a planar lightwave circuit (PLC), an etched groove for disposition of the optical fiber and an etched groove for mounting of the optical waveguide are exposed using a mask having mask patterns that are aligned with each other, and then anisotropically etched. By doing so, the two grooves can be precisely aligned with each other at one time, compared with a conventional method in which an exposure process is carried out two or more times. Accordingly, an inexpensive structure having high optical coupling efficiency upon manual alignment can be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning the cores of the two optical waveguides. The apparatus includes a control loop for receiving an aligning signal launched through the core of one of the optical waveguides. The control loop may effectuate the aligning signal to propagate through the cores of the optical waveguides. The control loop may include a detector for generating a detecting signal in response to detecting the aligning signal. Moreover, the control loop may include a machine-vision system for generating a manipulation signal in response to the detecting signal. The control loops may also include a controller for physically aligning one of the optical waveguides with respect to the other optical waveguide in response to the manipulation signal. The controller may perform the physically alignment by means of a robotic tool. The apparatus may also include a means for splicing the optical waveguides.