Optical bench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9658404-B2
Application number	US-201514686501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for design, fabrication, and use of an optical bench, as well as alignment and attachment of optical fibers are described herein. One apparatus includes an apparatus body, a first channel within the apparatus body for positioning of a first optical fiber directed along a first axis and a second channel within the apparatus body for positioning of a second optical fiber directed along a second axis, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis. The apparatus also includes a third optical fiber directed along the second axis and an optical element positioned along the first channel and second channel to focus a first light beam from the first optical fiber along the first axis and focus a second light beam from the second optical fiber along the second axis.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an apparatus body;
a first channel within the apparatus body for positioning of a first optical fiber directed along a first axis;
a second channel within the apparatus body for positioning of a second optical fiber directed along a second axis, wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis;
a third optical fiber directed along the second axis;
an optical element positioned along the first channel and second channel to:
focus a first light beam from the first optical fiber along the first axis; and
focus a second light beam from the second optical fiber along the second axis; and

a keyed fiber slot structure disposed in at least a portion of an aperture formed in the apparatus body, wherein the keyed fiber slot structure is to connect at least one of the first optical fiber, the second optical fiber, and the third optical fiber to the apparatus body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the optical element to focus a third light beam along a third axis, wherein the third axis is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is disposed in a substantially pyramid-shaped opening in the apparatus body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first channel and second channel are substantially V-shaped.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least one slot at one end of at least one of the first channel and the second channel to provide passive alignment for at least one of the first optical fiber, second optical fiber, or third optical fiber.

6. An optical bench apparatus, comprising:
a stack of semiconductor wafers;
a plurality of spaces formed within the stack of semiconductor wafers, wherein the surfaces of the semiconductor wafers forming the spaces are shaped to hold and align the optical elements;
a first optical element, a second optical element, and a third optical element each positioned in a space formed within the stack of semiconductor wafers;
a plurality of optical fiber apertures to receive a plurality of optical fibers and to direct a light beam out of each optical fiber and into the optical elements; and
a keyed fiber slot structure formed in at least one of the plurality of optical fiber apertures.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of spaces is substantially pyramid shaped.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , the optical element to:
direct a path of the light beam along a first axis;
direct a path of the light beam along a second axis; and
direct a path of the light beam along a third axis,
wherein the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis and the third axis is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , the optical element to collimate the light beam.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second optical element has a diameter that is different from a diameter of the third optical element.

11. A method, comprising:
forming a first plurality of apertures in a first wafer;
forming a first plurality of angle-walled structures in a second wafer;
bonding the first wafer and the second wafer;
forming, in a third wafer:
a second plurality of apertures, wherein at least one of the second plurality of apertures is formed to a larger diameter than at least one of the first plurality of apertures; and
a second plurality of angle-walled structures;

forming at least one optical element such that the at least one optical element is disposed in at least one of the plurality of angle-walled structures in the second wafer;
bonding the third wafer to the second wafer such that the first plurality of angle-walled structures and the second plurality of angle-walled structures are aligned;
forming a third plurality of apertures in a fourth wafer;
forming a keyed fiber slot in at least one aperture of the third plurality of apertures to provide alignment for at least one optical fiber; and
bonding the fourth wafer to the third wafer.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of angle-walled structures and the second plurality of angle-walled structures are formed in a substantially pyramid shape.

13. The method of 11 , comprising:
forming a first portion of a groove in the second wafer; and
forming a second portion of a groove in the third wafer, wherein the first portion of the groove and the second portion of the groove align to form the groove.

14. The method of 13 , wherein the first portion of the groove and the second portion of the groove are substantially V-shaped.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Ohnstein Thomas
• Youngner Daniel
• Salit Mary
• Ridley Jeff A

Classifications

• G02B6/32 Primary

  having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} · CPC title

• G02B6/3664

  2D cross sectional arrangements of the fibres · CPC title

• G02B6/3636

  the mechanical coupling means being grooves (G02B6/3652 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3616

  Holders, macro size fixtures for mechanically holding or positioning fibres, e.g. on an optical bench (supporting carriers of a microbench type G02B6/3648; micromanipulators B25J7/00; cassettes, bobbins G02B6/4439) · CPC title

• G02B6/3652 Primary

  the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers · CPC title