Optical module with integrated lens
View Patent ↗In an embodiment, an optoelectronic module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a lens block. The printed circuit board (PCB) includes at least one of an optical transmitting or receiving array. The lens block may be configured for directly coupling light between one of the optical transmitting or receiving array to optical fibers in an optical cable. A method may include directly coupling light between one of an optical transmitting or receiving array and a lens block, and further coupling the light through the lens block directly to an optical fiber of an optical cable externally coupled to the optoelectronic module.
1. An optoelectronic module, comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB) including at least one of an optical transmitting or receiving array mounted thereon;
an alignment guide; and
a lens block mounted to the PCB and configured to directly couple light between an optical fiber external to the optoelectronic module and the at least one of an optical transmitting or receiving array, wherein the lens block includes a first integral alignment feature configured to at least partially receive the optical fiber therein, and wherein the lens block includes a second integral alignment feature to cooperatively align the alignment guide used to align the optical fiber to the lens block;
wherein the alignment guide includes a third integral alignment feature to permit the alignment guide to be Movably aligned with respect to a housing surrounding the alignment guide.
2. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 , wherein the lens block includes a focusing lens configured to focus light from the at least one of an optical transmitting or receiving array into the lens block.
3. The optoelectronic module of claim 2 , wherein the focusing lens is integral with the lens block.
4. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 , wherein the lens block includes a focusing lens configured to focus light from the lens block into the optical fiber of an optical cable.
5. The optoelectronic module of claim 4 , wherein the focusing lens is integral with the lens block.
6. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 , wherein the lens block includes an angled surface for reflecting the light between the at least one of an optical transmitting or receiving array and the optical fiber of an optical cable.
7. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 , wherein the second integral alignment feature is configured to align in at least one axis of the lens block with the alignment guide.
8. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 , wherein the third integral alignment feature is configured to align the lens block with the housing of the optoelectronic module.
9. The optoelectronic module of claim 8 , wherein the lens block further includes alignment pins configured to align an optical cable with the lens block.
10. A method, comprising:
coupling light between at least one of an optical transmitting or receiving array mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) and a lens block mounted to the PCB, wherein the lens block includes a first integral alignment feature configured to at least partially receive an optical fiber therein, and wherein the lens block includes a second integral alignment feature to cooperatively align an alignment guide used to align the optical fiber to the lens block;
transmitting the light through the lens block directly to the optical fiber of an optical cable externally coupled to an optoelectronic module when the light is being transmitted from the optical transmitting array;
receiving the light through the lens block directly from the optical fiber of an optical cable externally coupled to an optoelectronic module when the light is being received at the optical receiving array; and
Movably aligning the alignment guide with respect to a housing surrounding the alignment guide, wherein the alignment guide includes a third integral alignment feature that permits the alignment guide to be moved with respect to the housing surrounding the alignment guide.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising focusing light from the optical transmitting array into the lens block.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising focusing light from the optical fiber into the lens block.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising reflecting the light on an angled surface of the lens block between the optical transmitting array and the optical fiber of the optical cable.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising reflecting the light on an angled surface of the lens block between the optical fiber of the optical cable and the optical receiving array.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising aligning in at least one axis the lens block with the alignment guide configured to receive the optical cable.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising aligning in at least one axis the lens block with a shell of a housing of the optoelectronic module.
17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising aligning the optical cable with the lens block with the first integral alignment feature of the lens block.
18. A system comprising:
an optical cable that includes a plurality of optical fibers each including an end extending from the optical cable;
a pluggable connector configured to removably couple an end of the optical cable to an optoelectronic module, wherein the pluggable connector comprises:
an alignment guide; and
a lens block mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured for directly coupling light from an optical transmitting array mounted on the PCB to the ends of the optical fibers, wherein the lens block includes first integral alignment features configured to at least partially receive the plurality of optical fibers therein, and wherein the lens block includes a second integral alignment feature to cooperatively align the alignment guide used to align the optical fiber to the lens block;
wherein the alignment guide includes a third integral alignment feature to permit the alignment guide to be Movably aligned with respect to a housing surrounding the alignment guide.
19. The system of claim 18 , the lens block further configured to reflect the light on an angled surface of the lens block between the optical transmitting array and the end of the optical fibers of the optical cable.
20. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 , wherein:
the first integral alignment feature permits the optical fiber to be movably aligned with respect to the lens block in a first direction;
the second integral alignment feature permits the lens block to be movably aligned with respect to the alignment guide in the same first direction; and
the third integral alignment feature permits the alignment guide to be movably aligned with respect to the housing in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.