US2004212802A1PendingUtilityA1

Optical device with alignment compensation

42
Priority: Feb 20, 2001Filed: Apr 22, 2003Published: Oct 28, 2004
Est. expiryFeb 20, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Steven K. CaseTimothy A. SkunesMichael A. KnipferGregory S. Mowry
G02B 6/4238G02B 6/3838G02B 6/29365G02B 6/32G02B 6/4225G02B 6/4232G02B 6/4204G02B 26/0875G02B 6/3652G02B 6/4206G02B 6/4221G02B 6/4231G02B 6/4224G02B 6/255G02B 6/2555G02B 7/003G02B 6/4239G02B 6/4228G02B 6/3636G02B 6/4236G02B 6/4226G02B 6/423G02B 6/3873G02B 6/4207G02B 6/4227G02B 6/2938G02B 6/2553
42
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Claims

Abstract

An optical device is provided which includes a plurality of optical modules and an alignment compensation module. Each optical module includes an optical component fixedly coupled to a relative reference mount. The relative reference mount is configured to attach to a substrate. A plurality of optical modules mount on the substrate to form the optical device. The alignment compensation module removes residual alignment errors of the optical device.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An optical device, comprising: 
 a substrate having a first registration feature and a second registration feature;    a first optical module comprising: 
 an optical component;  
 a relative reference mount including a registration feature configured to align with the first registration feature of the substrate, the optical component held at a prealigned spacial orientation relative to the registration feature;  
   a second optical module, comprising: 
 an optical component; and  
 a relative reference mount including a registration feature configured to align with the second registration feature of the substrate, the optical component held at a prealigned spacial orientation relative to the registration feature; and the first and second optical modules arranged to transfer light therebetween.  
 an alignment compensation module configured to interact with the light to provide a final alignment to the light to thereby compensate for residual alignment errors.  
   
     
     
         2 . An optical alignment compensation module to align a substantially collimated light beam with an initial angular propagation direction along a Z axis comprising: 
 an afocal optical system configured to deviate the angular propagation direction of the light beam when rotated about a Y axis perpendicular to the initial angular propagation (Z axis) direction, the amount of deviation less than the amount of rotation of the afocal optical system; and    a mount configured to rotate the afocal optical system about the Y axis perpendicular to the initial angular propagation direction (Z axis).    
     
     
         3 . A method of making an optical device comprising: 
 obtaining prealigned optical modules having registration features;    obtaining a fixed reference with registration features configured to mate with the registration features of the prealigned optical modules;    mounting the optical modules onto the fixed reference and aligning the registration features;    obtaining an alignment compensation module; and    adjusting a path of light through the optical device with the alignment compensation module.    
     
     
         4 . A method of compensating the alignment of an optical system to align a substantially collimated light beam with an initial angular propagation direction along a Z axis, the method comprising: 
 obtaining an alignment compensation module which includes an afocal optical system configured to deviate the angular propagation direction of the light beam when rotated about a Y axis perpendicular to the initial angular propagation (Z axis) direction, the amount of deviation less than the amount of rotation of the afocal optical system; and    rotating the afocal optical system to adjust the path of the light beam through the optical system.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light beam is collimated.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light is substantially converging.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light is substantially diverging.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the alignment compensation module includes a lens element.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the alignment compensation module includes a lens element which is translated substantially perpendicular to a Z axis to adjust light beam alignment.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  including a lever arm alignment structure to translate the lens element.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the alignment compensation module includes an optical element with substantially two planar surfaces.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the optical element is rotated to provide the final alignment.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the alignment compensation module includes an afocal optical system configured to alter an angular propagation direction of the light.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  including an adjustable mount configured to rotate the afocal optical system.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one optical element has an optical characteristic which varies relative to at least one dimension and wherein the optical characteristic is aligned with a reference defined relative to a registration feature of the respective relative reference mount.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the optical device is a fiber optical demultiplexer.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the alignment compensation module includes a lens element.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the mount includes a spherical surface and a receptacle.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the mount is fixedly secured with an attachment material.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the light beam is collimated.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the light is substantially converging.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the light is substantially diverging.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the alignment compensation module includes a lens element.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the alignment compensation module includes a lens element which is translated substantially perpendicular to a Z axis to adjust light beam alignment.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  including a lever arm alignment structure to translate the lens element.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the alignment compensation module includes an optical element with substantially two planar surfaces.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the optical element is rotated to provide the final alignment.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the alignment compensation module includes an afocal optical system configured to alter an angular propagation direction of the light.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  including an adjustable mount configured to rotate the afocal optical system.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least one optical element has an optical characteristic which varies relative to at least one dimension and wherein the optical characteristic is aligned with a reference defined relative to a registration feature of the respective relative reference mount.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the light beam is collimated.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the light is substantially converging.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the light is substantially diverging.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the alignment compensation module includes a lens element.

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