Lens receptacles
View Patent ↗This disclosure generally relates to high-speed fiber optic networks that use light signals to transmit data over a network. The disclosed subject matter includes devices and methods relating to lens receptacles and/or optoelectronic subassemblies. In some aspects, the disclosed devices and methods relate to a lens receptacle including a receptacle body extending between a receptacle top and a receptacle bottom, the receptacle body including: a port body defining a receptacle port with a port opening at the receptacle top; a receptacle window defining a base of the receptacle port; a lens array including lenses positioned on the receptacle window; and at least one receptacle alignment feature.
1. An optoelectronic subassembly comprising:
a lens receptacle including a receptacle body extending between a receptacle top and a receptacle bottom, the receptacle body including:
a port body defining a receptacle port at the receptacle top;
a receptacle window defining a base of the receptacle port;
a lens array including lenses positioned on the receptacle window; and
at least one receptacle alignment feature;
a multi-channel header subassembly optically coupled to the lens receptacle; and
a housing positioned between the lens receptacle and the multi-channel header subassembly, the housing comprising a housing window physically separate from the receptacle window that is at least partially optically transmissive.
2. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-channel header subassembly further comprises:
a multilayer substrate; and
optoelectronic components coupled to or formed on the multilayer substrate, the optoelectronic components configured to transmit and/or receive multiple optical signals each corresponding to one channel;
wherein:
the optoelectronic components include a receiver array configured to receive the multiple optical signals from corresponding optical fibers; and/or
the optoelectronic components include a laser array configured to transmit the multiple optical signals to corresponding optical fibers.
3. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 2 , wherein the housing hermetically seals the optoelectronic components when the housing is coupled to the header subassembly and the housing includes a housing top shaped and dimensioned to interface with the lens receptacle.
4. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 3 , wherein a spaced portion between the housing and the lens receptacle permits the lens receptacle to be positioned with respect to the housing.
5. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 4 , wherein the housing and the lens receptacle are coupled to one another by filler or adhesive positioned between the housing and the lens receptacle.
6. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , further comprising a ferrule assembly including optical fibers, the ferrule assembly sized and shaped to be positioned inside the receptacle port such that the optical fibers of the ferrule assembly are aligned with the lenses of the lens receptacle when the ferrule assembly is positioned inside the receptacle port.
7. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 6 , the ferrule assembly further comprising at least one ferrule alignment feature configured to interface with the receptacle alignment feature, wherein the optical fibers of the ferrule assembly are aligned with the lenses of the lens receptacle when the ferrule alignment feature interfaces with the receptacle alignment feature.
8. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , the lens receptacle further comprising a light aperture defined by the receptacle body and positioned within the receptacle port, the light aperture configured to permit optical signals to travel through at least a portion of the lens receptacle to the lenses.
9. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 8 , wherein the receptacle window is an optically transmissive receptacle window occluding the light aperture.
10. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the lens array includes a linear distribution such that the lenses are linearly aligned with respect to one another.
11. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the receptacle body is formed of an optically transmissive material.
12. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the lenses are optically transmissive convex surfaces.
13. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , wherein the lens array includes the lenses positioned on one side of the receptacle window.
14. The optoelectronic subassembly of claim 1 , further comprising a receptacle base defining a receptacle cavity having a cavity opening at the receptacle bottom.