Device for coupling a light source or receiver to an optical waveguide

Claim 2

A connector comprising: an optoelectronic transducer having a transducer axis through a center of said optoelectronic transducer, and a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said optoelectronic transducer; an optical fiber having a fiber axis being different than said transducer axis; a first lens comprising a ball lens disposed between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical fiber, a center of said first lens aligned to said optoelectronic transducer axis by said first alignment means; and a second lens between said optical fiber and said first lens, a center of said second lens aligned to said fiber axis by a second alignment means; wherein said first and second lenses form an optical relay which relays light between said center of said optoelectronic transducer and said center of said optical fiber, forming an efficient optical coupling between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical fiber, even though said transducer axis and said fiber axis do not coincide.

Claim 3

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said transducer axis and said fiber axes are parallel.

Claim 4

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said transducer axis and said fiber axis are displaced by ±25 μm from each other.

Claim 5

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said second lens is a ball lens.

Claim 6

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein a center of said first lens is positioned a distance D from a center of said second lens, where D=F1+F2, where F1 is the focal length of said first lens and F2 is the focal length of said second lens.

Claim 7

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said optical fiber is a single mode fiber.

Claim 8

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said optoelectronic transducer is a surface emitting laser.

Claim 9

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said optoelectronic transducer is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

Claim 10

The connector recited in claim 1, further comprising a stage and wherein said optoelectronic transducer is positioned at a predetermined position on said stage to an accuracy of 4.5 μm from said predetermined position on said stage.

Claim 11

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said second lens has a focal length f, where f≈d/k(NA)n w , where k is the angular tolerance criterion, NA is the numerical aperture of said optical fiber, and n w is the refractive index of said optical fiber.

Claim 12

The connector recited in claim 10, wherein k is 1/2.

Claim 13

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said second lens has a radius of at least 277.3 μm.

Claim 14

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has a radius R, where R≈d/2k(NA)*(n l /n w ), where k is the angular tolerance criterion, NA is the numerical aperture of said transducer, n, is the refractive index of said first lens, and n w is the refractive index of said optical fiber.

Claim 15

The connector recited in claim 13, wherein k is 1/2.

Claim 16

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has a diameter of at least 0.455 mm.

Claim 17

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has a radius R1 which is different that a radius R2 for said second lens.

Claim 18

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has an index of refraction which is 2±0.25 times that of any material in contact with said first lens.

Claim 19

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said second lens has an index of refraction which is 2±0.25 times that of any material in contact with said first lens.

Claim 20

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said first aligning means supports said first lens above said optoelectronic transducer in order to provide a gap between said first lens and said transducer.

Claim 21

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said optoelectronic transducer resides on an optoelectronic chip; and said first lens has a diameter which exceed a longest dimension of said optoelectronic chip.

Claim 22

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said optical relay has a coupling efficiency of between 20% and 100%.

Claim 23

A connector comprising: an optoelectronic transducer having a transducer axis and a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said optoelectronic transducer; an optical waveguide having a waveguide axis through a center of said optical waveguide and being different than said transducer axis, a ball lens proximate to said optoelectronic transducer, a center of said ball lens aligned to said optoelectronic transducer axis by said first alignment means; and a second lens disposed between said optical waveguide and said ball lens, a center of said second lens aligned to said waveguide axis by a second alignment means.

Claim 24

A connector comprising: an optoelectronic transducer having a transducer axis and a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said optoelectronic transducer; an optical waveguide having a waveguide axis through a center of said optical waveguide and being different than said transducer axis, a ball lens proximate to said optoelectronic transducer, a center of said ball lens aligned to said optoelectronic transducer axis by said first alignment means; and a second lens disposed between said optical waveguide and said ball lens, a center of said second lens aligned to said waveguide axis by a second alignment means.

Claim 25

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said transducer axis and said waveguide axes are parallel.

Claim 26

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said transducer axis and said waveguide axis are displaced by ±25 μm from each other.

Claim 27

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said second lens is a ball lens.

Claim 28

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said optoelectronic transducer is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

Claim 29

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said second lens has a focal length f, where f≈d/k(NA)n w , where k is the angular tolerance criterion and K=1/2, NA is the numerical aperture of said optical waveguide, and n w is the refractive index of said optical waveguide.

Claim 30

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said first lens has a radius R, where R≈d/2k(NA)*(n l /n w ), where k is the angular tolerance criterion and k=1/2, NA is the numerical aperture of said transducer, n l is the refractive index of said first lens, and n w is the refractive index of said optical waveguide.

Claim 31

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said first aligning means supports said first lens above said optoelectronic transducer in order to provide a gap between said first lens and said transducer.

Claim 32

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said optoelectronic transducer resides on an optoelectronic chip; and said first lens has a diameter which exceed a longest dimension of said optoelectronic chip.

Claim 33

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said connector has a coupling efficiency of between 20% and 100%.

Claim 34

A connector comprising: an optoelectronic transducer having a transducer axis through a center of said optoelectronic transducer, and a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said optoelectronic transducer; an optical waveguide having a waveguide axis being different than said transducer axis; a first lens comprising a ball lens disposed between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical waveguide, a center of said first lens aligned to said optoelectronic transducer axis by said first alignment means; a second lens between said optical waveguide and said first lens, a center of said second lens aligned to said waveguide axis by a second alignment means; a stage, said optoelectronic transducer is positioned at a predetermined position on said stage, said stage further comprising at least one alignment feature thereon; a first housing for attaching to said stage and being aligned with said optoelectronic transducer, said housing enclosing said first lens and said optoelectronic transducer; and a second housing for attaching to said waveguide and enclosing said second lens; wherein said first and second lenses form an optical relay which relays light between said center of said optoelectronic transducer and said center of said optical fiber, forming an efficient optical coupling between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical fiber, even though said transducer axis and said fiber axis do not coincide.

Claim 35

A connector comprising: an optoelectronic transducer having a transducer axis through a center of said optoelectronic transducer, and a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said optoelectronic transducer; an optical waveguide having a waveguide axis being different than said transducer axis; a first lens comprising a ball lens disposed between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical waveguide, a center of said first lens aligned to said optoelectronic transducer axis by said first alignment means; a second lens between said optical waveguide and said first lens, a center of said second lens aligned to said waveguide axis by a second alignment means; a stage, said optoelectronic transducer is positioned at a predetermined position on said stage, said stage further comprising at least one alignment feature thereon; a first housing for attaching to said stage and being aligned with said optoelectronic transducer, said housing enclosing said first lens and said optoelectronic transducer; and a second housing for attaching to said waveguide and enclosing said second lens; wherein said first and second lenses form an optical relay which relays light between said center of said optoelectronic transducer and said center of said optical fiber, forming an efficient optical coupling between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical fiber, even though said transducer axis and said fiber axis do not coincide.

Claim 36

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said optoelectronic transducer is positioned to an accuracy of 4.5 μm from said predetermined position on said stage.

Claim 37

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said transducer axis and said waveguide axes are parallel.

Claim 38

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said transducer axis and said waveguide axis are displaced by ±25 μm from each other.

Claim 39

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said second lens is a ball lens.

Claim 40

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said optoelectronic transducer is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

Claim 41

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said second lens has a focal length f, where f=d/k(NA)n w , where k is the angular tolerance criterion and K=1/2, NA is the numerical aperture of said optical waveguide, and n w is the refractive index of said optical waveguide.

Claim 42

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said first lens has a radius R, where R≈d/2k(NA)*(n l /n w ), where k is the angular tolerance criterion and k=1/2, NA is the numerical aperture of said transducer, n l is the refractive index of said first lens, and n w is the refractive index of said optical waveguide.

Claim 43

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said first aligning means supports said first lens above said optoelectronic transducer in order to provide a gap between said first lens and said transducer.

Claim 44

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said optoelectronic transducer resides on an optoelectronic chip; and said first lens has a diameter which exceed a longest dimension of said optoelectronic chip.

Claim 45

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said connector has a coupling efficiency of between 20% and 100%.

Claim 46

The connector recited in claim 32, further comprising attaching means for attaching said first and second housing to each other.

Claim 47

A connector comprising: an optoelectronic transducer having a transducer axis through a center of said optoelectronic transducer, and a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said optoelectronic transducer; an optical waveguide having a waveguide axis being different than said transducer axis; a first lens comprising a ball lens disposed between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical waveguide, a center of said first lens aligned to said optoelectronic transducer axis by said first alignment means; a second lens between said optical waveguide and said first lens, a center of said second lens aligned to said waveguide axis by a second alignment means; a stage, said optoelectronic transducer is positioned at a predetermined position on said stage, said stage further comprising at least one alignment feature thereon; a housing for attaching to said stage and to said waveguide, said housing being aligned with said optoelectronic transducer, said housing enclosing said first and second lenses and said optoelectronic transducer; and wherein said first and second lenses form an optical relay which relays light between said center of said optoelectronic transducer and said center of said optical fiber, forming an efficient optical coupling between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical fiber, even though said transducer axis and said fiber axis do not coincide.

Claim 48

A connector comprising: an optoelectronic transducer having a transducer axis through a center of said optoelectronic transducer, and a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said optoelectronic transducer; an optical waveguide having a waveguide axis being different than said transducer axis; a first lens comprising a ball lens disposed between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical waveguide, a center of said first lens aligned to said optoelectronic transducer axis by said first alignment means; a second lens between said optical waveguide and said first lens, a center of said second lens aligned to said waveguide axis by a second alignment means; a stage, said optoelectronic transducer is positioned at a predetermined position on said stage, said stage further comprising at least one alignment feature thereon; a housing for attaching to said stage and to said waveguide, said housing being aligned with said optoelectronic transducer, said housing enclosing said first and second lenses and said optoelectronic transducer; and wherein said first and second lenses form an optical relay which relays light between said center of said optoelectronic transducer and said center of said optical fiber, forming an efficient optical coupling between said optoelectronic transducer and said optical fiber, even though said transducer axis and said fiber axis do not coincide.

Claim 49

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said optoelectronic transducer is positioned to an accuracy of 4.5 μm from said predetermined position on said stage.

Claim 50

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said transducer axis and said waveguide axes are parallel.

Claim 51

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said transducer axis and said waveguide axis are displaced by ±25 μm from each other.

Claim 52

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said second lens is a ball lens.

Claim 53

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said optoelectronic transducer is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser.

Claim 54

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said second lens has a focal length f, where f≈d/k(NA)n w , where k is the angular tolerance criterion and K=1/2, NA is the numerical aperture of said optical waveguide, and n w is the refractive index of said optical waveguide.

Claim 55

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said first lens has a radius R, where R≈d/2k(NA)*(n 1 /n w ), where k is the angular tolerance criterion and k=1/2, NA is the numerical aperture of said transducer, n l is the refractive index of said first lens, and n w is the refractive index of said optical waveguide.

Claim 56

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said first aligning means supports said first lens above said optoelectronic transducer in order to provide a gap between said first lens and said transducer.

Claim 57

The connector recited in claim 38, wherein said optoelectronic transducer resides on an optoelectronic chip; and said first lens has a diameter which exceed a longest dimension of said optoelectronic chip.

Claim 58

A light emitter comprising: a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) residing on a semiconductor chip, said VCSEL also comprising a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of to said VCSEL; and a lens aligned to said VCSEL by said first alignment means, in which said lens has a lateral dimension which exceeds a lateral dimension of said semiconductor chip.

Claim 59

A light emitter comprising: a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) residing on a semiconductor chip, said VCSEL also comprising a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of to said VCSEL; and a lens aligned to said VCSEL by said first alignment means, in which said lens has a lateral dimension which exceeds a lateral dimension of said semiconductor chip.

Claim 60

The light emitter recited in claim 54, further comprising a stage, said optoelectronic transducer being positioned at a predetermined position on said stage; and a first housing for attaching to said, said housing enclosing said first lens and said optoelectronic transducer.

Claim 61

The light emitter recited in claim 55, wherein said stage further comprises at least one alignment feature thereon, said alignment feature for aligning said stage to said housing and thereby passively aligning said optoelectronic transducer to said housing.

Claim 62

The light emitter recited in claim 55, wherein said housing is hermetically sealed to said stage.

Claim 63

The light emitter recited in claim 55, wherein said housing is filled with a material having an index of refraction which is 1/2 of an index of refraction for said first lens.

Claim 64

A light emitter comprising: a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) residing on a semiconductor chip, said VCSEL also comprising a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said VCSEL; a ball lens aligned to said VCSEL by said first alignment means; a stage, said optoelectronic transducer being positioned on said stage; and a first housing for attaching to said, said housing enclosing said first lens and said optoelectronic transducer.

Claim 65

A light emitter comprising: a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) residing on a semiconductor chip, said VCSEL also comprising a first alignment means in contact with a single surface of said VCSEL; a ball lens aligned to said VCSEL by said first alignment means; a stage, said optoelectronic transducer being positioned on said stage; and a first housing for attaching to said, said housing enclosing said first lens and said optoelectronic transducer.

Claim 66

The light emitter recited in claim 59, wherein said housing is hermetically sealed to said stage.

Claim 67

The light emitter recited in claim 59, wherein said housing is filled with a material having an index of refraction which is 1/2 of an index of refraction for said first lens.

Claim 68

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has an antireflective surface over at least a portion of said first lens.

Claim 69

The connector recited in claim 22, wherein said first lens has an antireflective surface over at least a portion of said first lens.

Claim 70

The connector recited in claim 32, wherein said first lens has an antireflective surface over at least a portion of said first lens.

Claim 71

The connector recited in claim 44, wherein said first lens has an antireflective surface over at least a portion of said first lens.

Claim 72

The connector recited in claim 64, wherein said first lens has an antireflective surface over at least a portion of said first lens.

Claim 73

The connector recited in claim 1, wherein said first lens has an antireflective surface over at least a portion of said first lens.