Granted Patent B2

US 7,455,462 · App. 10/923,582 · Granted Nov 25, 2008

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. A module-to-fiber connection, comprising:

a fiber optic module and a fiber optic cable assembly, the fiber optic module comprising a ferrule interface having a port for receiving a ferrule from a fiber optic cable assembly, a window, an optoelectronic device directed at the window, and a first lens in contact with a structure that separates the first lens from a die supporting the optoelectronic device, the first lens having a first focus located at the optoelectronic device, the first lens, structure and optoelectronic device forming a void; and

the fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:

a fiber having a termination surface; and

a ferrule comprising an injection molded piece defining ( 1 ) a groove for receiving the fiber and ( 2 ) a tip extending beyond the groove along the optical axis, the tip having a rearward directed curved second lens on a surface of the ferrule, the second lens having a second focus located at the termination surface of the fiber, wherein optical axes of the first and second lenses are substantially parallel when the ferrule is inserted into the port, an air gap separates the termination surface of the fiber and the rearward directed curved second lens, and light being substantially collimated between the first and second lenses.

2. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule defines a cutout for visually aligning the fiber to the lens.

3. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 1 , wherein:

the first lens is selected from the group consisting of ( 1 ) a collimating lens that collimates diverging light from the optoelectronic device to the fiber optic cable assembly, and ( 2 ) a converging lens that converges light from the fiber optic cable assembly onto the optoelectronic device; and

the second lens is selected from the group consisting of ( 1 ) a converging lens that converges collimated light from the fiber optic module to the termination surface of the fiber, and ( 2 ) a collimating lens that collimates light from the termination surface of the fiber into the fiber optic module.

4. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optical cable assembly further comprises a connector body enclosing the ferrule.

5. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 4 , wherein the connector body comprises pins for aligning the fiber optic cable assembly to the fiber optic module.

6. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 1 , wherein the structure is arranged to support the first lens.

7. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 6 , wherein the structure arranged to support the first lens comprises an opening in a wall to permit the flow of an adhesive.

8. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 6 , wherein the structure arranged to support the first lens is ring shaped.

9. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 6 , wherein the structure arranged to support the first lens is constructed of a material selected from a polymer, a metal and an insulator.

10. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 6 , wherein the structure arranged to support the first lens defines a cavity interposed between the first lens and the optoelectronic device.

11. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 10 , wherein the cavity is filled with a transparent adhesive.

12. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 6 , wherein the structure arranged to support the first lens comprises a polyimide base capped with a layer of photoresist.

13. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 6 , wherein the first lens comprises a spherical lens.

14. The module-to-fiber connection of claim 6 , wherein the first lens is formed in alignment with the optoelectronic device on a wafer.

Assignments (9)