IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,359,585
Granted Patent B2
US 10,359,585 · App. 15/082,718 · Granted Jul 23, 2019

Device for coupling and/or decoupling optical signals

Inventors: Holger Hoeltke (Munich, DE); Martin Groepl (Sonthofen Oberallgaeu, DE)
Assignee: SILICON LINE GMBH
G02B6/423G02B6/4202G02B6/4255G02B6/4292G02B6/4295
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,359,585
App. No.
15/082,718
Granted
Jul 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

In order to further develop a device ( 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 100 e, 100 f ) for coupling optical signals into at least one waveguide ( 10 ), wherein the device ( 100 a, 100 b, 100 c, 100 d, 100 e, 100 f ) comprises at least one electro-optical converter ( 28 ) which sends out the optical signals in the direction of the axis or of the core ( 12 ) of the waveguide ( 10 ), in such a way that active alignment of the waveguide ( 10 ) is not necessary, it is proposed that the electro-optical converter ( 28 ) is incorporated, in particular embedded, in at least one send-site optical subassembly ( 40 ), and that the send-site optical subassembly ( 40 ) comprises at least one guiding channel ( 46 ) for aligning the waveguide ( 10 ) with respect to the electro-optical converter ( 28 ), in particular relative to the output port or to the active surface ( 30 ) of the electro-optical converter ( 28 ). The corresponding is true for a device ( 140 a, 140 b, 140 c, 140 d, 140 e, 140 f ) for decoupling optical signals from at least one waveguide ( 10 ).

Claims (30)

1. A device for coupling optical signals into at least one waveguide, wherein the device comprises at least one electro-optical converter which sends out the optical signals in the direction of the axis or of the core of the waveguide,

wherein the electro-optical converter is incorporated in at least one send-site optical subassembly,

wherein the send-site optical subassembly comprises at least one guiding channel for aligning the waveguide with respect to the electro-optical converter, and

wherein at least one air outlet is provided, via which trapped and/or compressed air can be vented when the waveguide is inserted in the guiding channel, with the air outlet designed in the form of a groove extending along the entire length of the guiding channel, with the send-site optical subassembly being broken through by the air outlet, said air outlet having the form of a recess from the guiding channel surface to the outer surface of the send-site optical subassembly.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding channel

is cylindrical or conical in shape, or

is designed with graduations or multiple levels, or

is tapered towards the converter.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding channel

is constructed such that the output/input port or active surface of the converter is positioned at a distance from the core of the waveguide, or

is constructed closed or partially open with respect to its circumferential line.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is arranged on the end of the guiding channel closest to the converter.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electro-optical converter is at least one laser.

6. A three-dimensional micro-stereolithographic printing method for producing at least one device according to claim 1 .

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical subassembly is produced from at least one optically transparent or optically semi-transparent medium.

8. A device for decoupling optical signals from at least one waveguide, wherein the device comprises at least one opto-electrical converter which receives the optical signals from the direction of the axis or of the core of the waveguide,

wherein the receive-site optical subassembly comprises at least one guiding channel for aligning the waveguide with respect to the opto-electrical converter,

wherein the opto-electrical converter is incorporated in at least one receive-site optical subassembly, and

wherein at least one air outlet is provided, via which trapped and/or compressed air can be vented when the waveguide is inserted in the guiding channel, with the air outlet designed in the form of a groove extending along the entire length of the guiding channel, with the receive-site optical subassembly being broken through by the air outlet, said air outlet having the form of a recess from the guiding channel surface to the outer surface of the receive-site optical subassembly.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the guiding channel

is cylindrical or conical in shape, or

is designed with graduations or multiple levels, or

is tapered towards the converter.

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the guiding channel

is constructed such that the output/input port or active surface of the converter is positioned at a distance from the core of the waveguide, or

is constructed closed or partially open with respect to its circumferential line.

11. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the air outlet is arranged on the end of the guiding channel closest to the converter.

12. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the opto-electrical converter is at least one diode.

13. A three-dimensional micro-stereolithographic printing method for producing at least one device according to claim 8 .

14. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the optical subassembly is produced from at least one optically transparent or optically semi-transparent medium.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2019
From: HOELTKE, HOLGER; GROEPL, MARTIN
To: SILICON LINE GMBH
Reel/Frame 049125/0404 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2013 110 836 · Sep 30, 2013 · national
DE 10 2014 205 372 · Mar 22, 2014 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTDE2014200521 · Sep 30, 2014
Related Publication 20160209607A1 · Jul 21, 2016