Opto-electronic alignment system and method
View Patent ↗Alignment of one or more lenses with one or more opto-electronic devices in an opto-electronic system is aided by an aligner device having a substantially cylindrical body with a base and an outer ring. The base has one or more openings, one of which is a first opto-electronic device opening. The first opto-electronic device opening has a substantially circular shape coaxial with the outer ring and coaxial with a central axis of the aligner device.
1. A method for aligning one or more lenses with one or more opto-electronic devices, comprising:
providing an aligner device, the aligner device having a substantially cylindrical body with a base and an outer ring, the base having a first opto-electronic device opening and a second opto-electronic device opening, the first opto-electronic device opening having a substantially circular shape coaxial with the outer ring and coaxial with a central axis of the aligner device;
placing a first opto-electronic device in the first opto-electronic device opening, the first opto-electronic device having a periphery of dimensions providing a transitional fit within the first opto-electronic device opening, a periphery of the first opto-electronic device opening providing an alignment surface, the alignment surface of the first opto-electronic device opening aligning the first opto-electronic device with respect to the central axis and retaining the first opto-electronic device against movement with respect to the aligner device away from the central axis;
placing a second opto-electronic device in the second opto-electronic device opening, the second opto-electronic device having a periphery of dimensions providing a transitional fit within the second opto-electronic device opening; and
mating a lens device to the outer ring of the aligner device, the lens device including a first lens and a second lens, the lens device and outer ring having mating alignment surfaces, the mating alignment surfaces aligning the first lens with the first opto-electronic device, aligning the second lens with the second opto-electronic device, and retaining the lens device against movement with respect to the aligner device.
2. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing an aligner device comprises providing an aligner device having a straight-edged portion formed in the first opto-electronic device opening to retain the first opto-electronic device against rotational movement with respect to the aligner device.
3. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing an aligner device comprises:
forming a molding tool having a cylindrical portion;
turning the cylindrical portion of the molding tool on a lathe to form mold features corresponding to the first opto-electronic device opening and the outer ring; and
molding the body of the aligner device using the molding tool.
4. The method claimed in claim 3 , wherein turning the cylindrical portion on a lathe comprises diamond turning.
5. The method claimed in claim 4 , wherein providing an aligner device comprises providing an aligner device further having a second electronic device opening in the base of the body, and wherein the method further comprises placing a second electronic device in the second electronic device opening.
6. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing an aligner device comprises providing an aligner device having a central circular opening with a chamfered edge, and wherein placing a first opto-electronic device in the first opto-electronic device opening comprises the chamfered edge guiding the first opto-electronic device into the first opto-electronic device opening.
7. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing an aligner device comprises providing an aligner device further having a first electronic device opening in the base of the body, and wherein the method further comprises placing a first electronic device in the first electronic device opening.
8. The method claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
attaching the aligner device to a substantially planar substrate; and
attaching the first opto-electronic device to the substrate.
9. The method claimed in claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.
10. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing the aligner device comprises providing an aligner device having a first opto-electronic device opening that includes one or more straight edges.
11. A method for aligning one or more lenses with one or more opto-electronic devices, comprising:
providing an aligner device, the aligner device having a substantially cylindrical body with a base and an outer ring, the base having a first opto-electronic device opening and a second opto-electronic device opening, the first opto-electronic device opening having a substantially circular shape coaxial with the outer ring and coaxial with a central axis of the aligner device;
placing a first opto-electronic device having a substantially square shape in the first opto-electronic device opening, the first opto-electronic device having a periphery of dimensions providing a transitional fit within the first opto-electronic device opening, a periphery of the first opto-electronic device opening providing an alignment surface, the alignment surface of the first opto-electronic device opening aligning the first opto-electronic device with respect to the central axis and retaining the first opto-electronic device against movement with respect to the aligner device away from the central axis;
placing a second opto-electronic device having a square shape in the second opto-electronic device opening, the second opto-electronic device having a periphery of dimensions providing a transitional fit within the second opto-electronic device opening, a periphery of the first opto-electronic device opening providing an alignment surface, the alignment surface of the first opto-electronic device opening aligning the first opto-electronic device with respect to the central axis;
mating a lens device to the outer ring of the aligner device, the lens device including a first lens and a second lens, the lens device and outer ring having mating alignment surfaces for aligning the first lens with the first opto-electronic device, aligning the second lens with the second opto-electronic device, and retaining the lens device against movement with respect to the aligner device;
attaching the aligner device to a substantially planar substrate;
attaching the first opto-electronic device to the substrate; and
attaching the second opto-electronic device to the substrate.
12. The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein providing an aligner device comprises providing an aligner device further having a first electronic device opening in the base of the body, and wherein the method further comprises placing a first electronic device in the second electronic device opening.
13. The method claimed in claim 11 , wherein providing an aligner device comprises providing an aligner device further having a second electronic device opening in the base of the body, and wherein the method further comprises placing a second electronic device in the second opto-electronic device opening.
14. The system claimed in claim 13 , wherein the substrate comprises a printed circuit board.
15. The system claimed in claim 13 , wherein the aligner device has a first electronic device opening in the base of the body, and further comprising a first electronic device in the third opening attached to the substrate.
16. The system claimed in claim 15 , wherein the aligner device has a second electronic device opening in the base of the body, and further comprising a second electronic device in the fourth opening attached to the substrate.
17. A system having one or more lenses aligned with one or more opto-electronic devices, comprising:
a substantially planar substrate;
an aligner device having a substantially cylindrical body with a base and an outer ring, the base mounted on the substrate, the base having a first opto-electronic device opening and a second opto-electronic device opening, the first opto-electronic device opening having a substantially circular shape coaxial with the outer ring and coaxial with a central axis of the aligner device;
a first opto-electronic device mounted on the substrate in the first opto-electronic device opening, the first opto-electronic device having a periphery of dimensions providing a transitional fit within the first opto-electronic device opening, a periphery of the first opto-electronic device opening providing an alignment surface, the alignment surface of the first opto-electronic device opening aligning the first opto-electronic device with respect to the central axis;
a second opto-electronic device mounted on the substrate in the second opto-electronic device opening; and
a lens device attached to the outer ring of the aligner device, the lens device including a first lens and a second lens, the lens device and outer ring having mating alignment surfaces for aligning the first lens with the first opto-electronic device and aligning the second lens with the second opto-electronic device.
18. The system claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first opto-electronic device opening of the aligner device has a chamfered edge.
19. The system claimed in claim 17 , wherein the periphery of the first opto-electronic device opening of the aligner device includes one or more straight-edged portions.