Lens clip for coupling and optical alignment of an optical lens and an optical subassembly module implementing same
The present disclosure is generally directed to a lens clip that includes an optical lens slot to securely hold an optical lens at a predetermined position to mitigate effects of post-annealing shift. The lens clip includes a base that provides at least one substrate mating surface for mounting to a substrate, and at least first and second arms extending from the base. The first and second arms extend substantially parallel relative to each other and define at least a portion of an optical lens slot. The optical lens slot is configured to receive at least a portion of an optical lens and securely hold the optical lens at a predetermined position to ensure optical alignment of the optical lens, e.g., relative to an associated laser diode or other optical component, during fixation of the optical lens to the substrate using, for instance, UV-curing optical adhesives.
1. A lens clip for use in an optical subassembly module, the lens clip comprising:
a base defined by a plurality of sidewalls, the base providing at least one substrate mating surface for mounting to a substrate;
at least first and second arms extending from the base, the first and second arms extending substantially parallel relative to each other and defining at least a portion of an optical lens slot, the optical lens slot for receiving at least a portion of an optical lens and securely holding the optical lens at a predetermined position to ensure optical alignment of the optical lens relative to an associated optical component in order to mitigate post-annealing shift;
wherein the base is formed from a substantially transparent material, and wherein the first and second arms extend along surfaces of the optical lens configured to receive and pass channel wavelengths from the associated optical component; and
wherein the optical lens slot is defined at least in part by first and second inner mating surfaces provided by the first and second arms, respectively, and wherein the optical lens slot is further defined by a third inner mating surface provided by the base, and wherein the first, second and third inner mating surfaces are configured to directly contact one or more surfaces of the optical lens to hold the optical lens at the predetermined position via friction fit.
2. The lens clip of claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent material allows the base to pass at least 80% of incident ultraviolet (UV) light therethrough for purposes of exposing a UV-curing optical adhesive to the UV light.
3. The lens clip of claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms are integrally formed with the base as a single piece.
4. The lens clip of claim 1 , wherein the first and second inner mating surfaces extend substantially transverse relative to the third inner mating surface and generally form a U-shape, and wherein the first, second and third inner mating surfaces extend substantially transverse from the substrate when the base of the lens clip is coupled thereto.
5. The lens clip of claim 1 , wherein the optical lens slot is configured to hold the optical lens at a predetermined angle relative to a mounting surface of the substrate, the predetermined angle being substantially 90 degrees when the base of the lens clip is mounted to the mounting surface of the substrate.
6. The lens clip of claim 5 , wherein the optical lens slot holds the optical lens at the predetermined angle relative to the mounting surface based at least in part on the substrate mounting surface of the base being substantially flat and disposed flush against the mounting surface of the substrate.
7. An optical transceiver, the optical transceiver comprising:
a transceiver housing;
at least one optical transmitter subassembly (TOSA) arrangement disposed in the transceiver housing, the at least one TOSA arrangement comprising:
a substrate providing at least one mounting surface;
a laser diode mounted to the at least one mounting surface of the substrate, the laser diode to emit an associated channel wavelength;
a lens clip mounted to the at least one mounting surface of the substrate, the lens clip having a base that defines an optical lens slot configured to hold an optical lens at a predetermined position on the substrate to optically align the optical lens with the laser diode;
an optical lens at least partially disposed in the optical lens slot of the lens clip; and
at least one layer of ultraviolet-curing (UV-curing) optical adhesive disposed between an interface of the optical lens and the at least one mounting surface of the substrate;
an optical receiver subassembly (ROSA) disposed in the transceiver housing.
8. The optical transceiver of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the lens clip is substantially transparent to permit ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths to be passed therethrough to cause the UV-curing optical adhesive to cure.
9. The optical transceiver of claim 7 , wherein the optical lens slot is provided at least in part by first and second arms extending from the base of the lens clip.
10. The optical transceiver of claim 9 , wherein the first and second arms are integrally formed with the base of the lens clip as a single piece.
11. The optical transceiver of claim 9 , wherein the optical lens slot includes first and second inner mating surfaces provided by the first and second arms, respectively, and wherein the optical lens slot includes a third inner mating surface provided by the base of the lens clip, and wherein the first, second and third inner mating surfaces are configured to directly contact one or more surfaces of the optical lens to hold the optical lens at the predetermined position.
12. The optical transceiver of claim 11 , wherein the first and second inner mating surfaces extend substantially transverse relative to the third inner mating surface and generally form a U-shape, and wherein the first, second and third inner mating surfaces extend substantially transverse from the substrate.
13. The optical transceiver of claim 7 , wherein the optical lens slot is configured to hold the optical lens at a predetermined angle relative to the at least one mounting surface of the substrate, the predetermined angle being substantially 90 degrees.
14. A method for mounting and optically aligning an optical lens in an optical subassembly module, the method comprising:
mounting a lens clip to a substrate, the lens clip providing an optical lens slot to at least partially receive an optical lens;
inserting an optical lens into the optical lens slot;
disposing a first layer of an ultraviolet-curing (UV-curing) optical adhesive at an interface between the optical lens and the substrate; and
emitting UV light on to the first layer of UV-curing optical adhesive to cause the UV-curing optical adhesive to attach the optical lens to the substrate; and
in response to emitting the UV light on to the first layer of the UV-curing optical adhesive, mitigating post-anneal shifting of the optical lens based on the optical lens slot.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein emitting UV light on the first layer of UV-curing optical adhesive further includes emitting the UV light through a substantially transparent portion of the lens clip.
16. The method of claim 14 , the method further comprising:
disposing a second layer of UV-curing optical adhesive at an interface between the lens clip and the substrate; and
emitting UV light on to the second layer of UV-curing optical adhesive.