WO1996025679A1 - Protective housing for an integrated optical component - Google Patents
Protective housing for an integrated optical component Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1996025679A1 WO1996025679A1 PCT/US1996/001931 US9601931W WO9625679A1 WO 1996025679 A1 WO1996025679 A1 WO 1996025679A1 US 9601931 W US9601931 W US 9601931W WO 9625679 A1 WO9625679 A1 WO 9625679A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- component
- cavity
- accordance
- fact
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/30—Optical coupling means for use between fibre and thin-film device
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a protective housing for an optical component and, more specifically, to such a housing that has been designed to protect a component that consists of a substrate made of an optical material that carries at least one integrated waveguide and that is extended, beyond the said substrate, by optical fibers exiting from the housing, which defines a closed internal cavity in which the said component is placed.
- housings are used to protect integrated optical components such as couplers or multiplexers associated with fiber optics for the long- distance transmission of digital or analog information of the type used for example in applications such as audio, video, or data processing.
- integrated optical components take the form of a plate or a bar made of a crystalline material or an amorphous optical material, such as glass, with waveguides that have been formed for example by the diffusion of ions being embedded under one surface of the plate or the bar.
- the ends of the waveguides are connected to optical fibers that exit from the housing that protects the component.
- Such a component is fragile and must be protected effectively from the application of mechanical stresses and constraints that could break it, and from other physical or chemical phenomena that could damage it, including particularly variations in temperature or contact with water caused by the humidity of the air.
- the component is currently enclosed within a hermetically sealed and rigid container, with a photosetting or thermosetting resin filling the space left free inside the housing by the component, in order to prevent any entry of moist air or air that contains other damaging ingredients.
- the goal of the present invention is to provide a protective housing for an integrated optical component, with this housing being designed in such a way as to prevent damage to, or breakage of, this component as a result of the effect of stresses and constraints of various origins, and particularly the ones that are caused by differential thermal expansions, while still having a simple structure and lending itself to automatic assembly and closure.
- a protective housing for an optical component that consists of a substrate made of an optical material that includes at least one integrated waveguide and that is extended, beyond the said substrate, by optical fibers that exit from the housing, which housing defines a closed internal cavity in which the said component is placed, with this housing being notable in that the said cavity is sized such as to hold the said component with an amount of play that prevents any significant transmission of stress, strain, or pressure between the housing and the component.
- the housing is uncoupled or isolated from the optical component in terms of the transmission of any mechanical stresses applied to the housing by handling, vibrating supports, attachment straps, etc., or by differential thermal expansions.
- this uncoupling protects the fragile component from the application of such stresses that are capable of breaking or damaging it.
- the housing includes at least one flexible unit that is pressed lightly between two surfaces facing the component and the cavity in the housing, in order to prevent any potential vibrations of the component in the cavity.
- FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the housing in accordance with the invention, fitted with the integrated optical component that it protects;
- FIG. 2 is a partial view of the bottom of the housing shown in Figure 1, taken along the sectional line II-II in Figure 1/ - Figure 3 represents a perspective view of a watertight joint that forms part of the housing in accordance with the invention, and
- FIGS. 4 and 5 are transverse cross-sectional views of the housing in accordance with the invention, in the pre- assembly position and in the assembled position, respectively.
- FIG. 1 The housing is oblong in shape and symmetrical overall in relation to a plane P, and thus displays two ends, as represented in these figures.
- the housing includes essentially a base [1] that contains a cavity [2] which is generally parallelepipedal and closed by a lid [3] .
- the lid contains a recess [3 ! ] that is suitable for receiving a self-adhesive label that identifies the component contained in the housing.
- the cavity [2] in the base is shaped so as to receive an integrated optical component [4] whose shape is generally complementary. This component is traditionally produced with the aid of a substrate made of an optical material, such as glass, or a crystalline material.
- Waveguides [6 X ] [6 2 ] [6 3 ], etc., produced for example through ion diffusion, are embedded under the upper surface [5] of the component (see Figure 2) .
- Each of the ends of the guides is connected to one end of a bare optical fiber [l x ] [7 2 ] [7 3 ], etc., with this fiber being covered by a protective envelope [ 8 ⁇ ] [8 2 ] [8 3 ], etc. before exiting from the housing between two watertight joints [ 9 X ] and [9 2 ] .
- the connection of each fiber to the end of the corresponding waveguide can be ensured by a drop of an adhesive product [10 ! ., while another, larger drop of an adhesive product [11] ensures the mechanical bond between the substrate and the set of fibers.
- Such an integrated optical component is well known, for example, through French patent application No. 2 674 033, filed by the present applicant.
- a component may consist of a coupler with M inputs and N outputs, or else a multiplexer, in which case the number of fibers that exit from one end of the housing is generally different from the number of fibers that exit from the other end of the same housing.
- the cavity [2] formed in the housing is sized such as to hold the component [4] with an amount of mechanical play that prevents all significant transmission of stresses between the base [1] and the cover [3] of the housing, on the one hand, and the integrated optical component [4], on the other hand.
- the component does not form an integral part of the housing, and each of these two elements can then expand freely in relation to one another in the event of variations in temperature, thereby eliminating all application to the component [4] of stresses caused by differential expansions that could damage or even break the component.
- the uncoupling makes it possible to select, as a construction material for the housing, a material that is well suited, for example, from the point of view of its resistance to shocks or impacts, or because of its ability to be molded without any need to take into consideration (in practical terms) its coefficient of thermal expansion.
- a product could be selected that consists of a liquid-crystal polymer filled with fiberglass, such as the product designated by the name VECTRA A 130 in the catalogues of HOECHST AG and Hoechst Celanese Corporation, or else a polycarbonate.
- the amount of play necessary for the uncoupling can be provided all around the component.
- a certain amount of play [ j] could be provided between the two facing end surfaces of the component and of the housing, with a different amount of play [j 2 ] being provided between the component and the cover [3] (see Figure 1) , and two other amounts of play [j 3 ] and [j 4 ] being provided between the facing longitudinal surfaces (see Figure 2) .
- each of the amounts of play [ji] could be on the order of approximately 0.3 mm.
- these vibrations are prevented through the provision, in the cavity of the housing, of at least one flexible unit that is shaped in such a way as to be pressed between one surface of the component and one facing wall of the cavity, with an amount of force that is great enough to oppose any initiation of the vibration of the component while remaining small enough to avoid re-establishing a transmission path for the mechanical stresses to which the housing is exposed, or a transmission path for the stresses caused by differential [thermal] expansions.
- This unit may advantageously be in the shape of a flexible lip [12] that is molded as a unit with the base [2] of the housing and shaped so as to extend slightly into the cavity in the absence of the component [4] .
- Several such lips may be provided, for example, two on each of the longitudinal walls of the cavity, as can be seen in Figure 2.
- the forces developed by these lips may be different, in order to oppose any resonances that may occur as a result of vibrations applied to the housing.
- these lips may be replaced by flexible ribs [13], as shown by dashed lines in Figure 1, formed on two facing longitudinal walls of the cavity.
- the ribbing advantageously has a triangular cross-section and a chamfer [13j] at the head, in order to facilitate the insertion of the component [4] into the base [1] of the housing.
- FIG 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the watertight joints [9 X ] and [9 2 ] mounted in the recesses in the cover [3] and in the base [1] of the housing, respectively, provided to receive these joints.
- These joints which are identical and made of a flexible material (such as for example an elastomer with a very low modulus of elasticity) , have a series of gutters [14i] [14 2 ] [14 3 ], etc., that are parallel and generally semi-cylindrical, each of which adapts closely to one of the fibers in its protective envelope [ ⁇ j] [8 2 ] [8 3 ] , etc. in a flat ribbon exiting from the housing.
- the outlets of these entries and exits toward the outside of the housing have rounde profiles [15 x ] [15 2 ] [15 3 ], etc., in the plane of the ribbons (see Figure 2) and also in a plane that is orthogonal to the latter plane (see Figure 1) .
- the fibers that exit from the housing can be drawn in directions that diverge from the direction of their axes inside the housing (see the position indicated by a dashed line in Figure 1), with confidence that the change in direction will be consistent with a certain minimum radius of curvature r (i.e., the radius of curvature of the rounded area against which the fiber rests) that is sufficient to prevent any breakage of the fiber.
- a radius r 2 mm may be selected.
- the base [1] and the cover [3] of the housing may be obtained through the molding of a plastic material an assembled as indicated below, during the course of the assembly of the unit consisting of the optical component an its protective housing.
- the component is inserted into the cavity [2] in the base [1], with care being taken to ensure that the portions of the fibers located under the fiber envelope [8 ] pass through the gutters [1 in the two joints [9j] [9 2 ] located at the two ends of the base [1] .
- a water-repellent lubricant for example, of the so-called "mechanical” type or having a base of silicone, may be injected into the space that separates the component [4] from the walls of the cavity [2], to reinforce the resistance of the component to the moisture present in the air and to other damaging agents that may be carried by this air.
- This injection should be made with th allowance of an expansion volume for the lubricant, so as to prevent any overpressure effect associated with the expansion of the lubricant.
- the cover [3] is then inserted into the base [1], in the pre-assembly position shown diagrammatically in Figure 4.
- several clamping tabs [l ⁇ j [16 2 ] extend from the cover in order to penetrate into corresponding slots [17- [17 2 ] formed in the base, as far as just beyond a peripheral ribbing [18], which the clamping tab passes because of its flexibility, and which then holds the cover [3] onto the base [1], slightly above the later, in a position that allows the cover to be removed easily, if necessary, for example to check or inspect the installation of the component in the housing.
- This pre-assembly step makes it possible to handle easily the resulting assembly, until the cover is welded (in a procedure not shown) onto the base, for example, by ultrasonic welding.
- the cover is held by an ultrasonic head that places it in the final welding position shown in Figure 5, which is a view along sectional line V-V in Figure 1, while transmitting to the lid the proper ultrasonic vibrations for ensuring the welding of the cover [3] to the base [1] at the position of their peripheral surfaces that are in contact, indicated in this figure by reference [19] .
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96906405A EP0821800A1 (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1996-02-13 | Protective housing for an integrated optical component |
AU49793/96A AU704852B2 (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1996-02-13 | Protective housing for an integrated optical component |
US08/913,005 US5960143A (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1996-02-13 | Protective housing for an integrated optical component |
JP8525086A JPH11500239A (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1996-02-13 | Protective housing for integral optics |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR9501862A FR2730820B1 (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1995-02-17 | PROTECTIVE HOUSING FOR INTEGRATED OPTICAL COMPONENT |
FR95/01862 | 1995-02-17 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1996025679A1 true WO1996025679A1 (en) | 1996-08-22 |
Family
ID=9476264
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1996/001931 WO1996025679A1 (en) | 1995-02-17 | 1996-02-13 | Protective housing for an integrated optical component |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0821800A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH11500239A (en) |
KR (1) | KR19980702263A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1176006A (en) |
AU (1) | AU704852B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2210932A1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2730820B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996025679A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6292615B1 (en) * | 1999-03-09 | 2001-09-18 | Uniphase Telecommunications Products, Inc. | Optical fiber feedthrough |
US6857790B2 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2005-02-22 | Lightwave Microsystems Corporation | Apparatus and method to vertically route and connect multiple optical fibers |
JP5771170B2 (en) * | 2012-09-04 | 2015-08-26 | 日本電信電話株式会社 | Optical fiber connection member |
KR102079256B1 (en) * | 2013-09-13 | 2020-02-20 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Display device and method of fabricating the same |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0273207A (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1990-03-13 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Packaging structure of optical waveguide parts |
JPH0527139A (en) * | 1991-07-08 | 1993-02-05 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Optical waveguide circuit module |
JPH05257033A (en) * | 1992-03-16 | 1993-10-08 | Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd | Structure of joining part between optical waveguide and optical fiber |
US5444804A (en) * | 1993-07-29 | 1995-08-22 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Optical waveguide module |
US5463708A (en) * | 1993-06-22 | 1995-10-31 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Optical waveguide module having a waveguide affixed thereto at a first bonding strength and optical fibers affixed thereto at a second bonding strength |
US5481632A (en) * | 1993-05-26 | 1996-01-02 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Optical waveguide module and method of manufacturing the same |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0106116B1 (en) * | 1982-09-10 | 1989-04-26 | Alcatel N.V. | Arrangement for protecting an optical fiber coupler and a method of manufacturing the same |
JPS63205617A (en) * | 1987-02-20 | 1988-08-25 | Fujitsu Ltd | Structure of waveguide type optical device |
FR2674033B1 (en) * | 1991-03-14 | 1993-07-23 | Corning Inc | INTEGRATED OPTICAL COMPONENT LINKED BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED WAVEGUIDE AND AN OPTICAL FIBER, OPERATING IN A WIDE AREA OF TEMPERATURE. |
JP3194397B2 (en) * | 1991-08-05 | 2001-07-30 | 日本電信電話株式会社 | Optical waveguide circuit module |
US5214726A (en) * | 1991-10-07 | 1993-05-25 | United Technologies Corporation | Strain isolated integrated optic chip package |
-
1995
- 1995-02-17 FR FR9501862A patent/FR2730820B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-02-13 KR KR1019970705660A patent/KR19980702263A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-02-13 WO PCT/US1996/001931 patent/WO1996025679A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-02-13 EP EP96906405A patent/EP0821800A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1996-02-13 JP JP8525086A patent/JPH11500239A/en active Pending
- 1996-02-13 AU AU49793/96A patent/AU704852B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1996-02-13 CA CA002210932A patent/CA2210932A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-02-13 CN CN96191994A patent/CN1176006A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0273207A (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1990-03-13 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Packaging structure of optical waveguide parts |
JPH0527139A (en) * | 1991-07-08 | 1993-02-05 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Optical waveguide circuit module |
JPH05257033A (en) * | 1992-03-16 | 1993-10-08 | Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd | Structure of joining part between optical waveguide and optical fiber |
US5481632A (en) * | 1993-05-26 | 1996-01-02 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Optical waveguide module and method of manufacturing the same |
US5463708A (en) * | 1993-06-22 | 1995-10-31 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Optical waveguide module having a waveguide affixed thereto at a first bonding strength and optical fibers affixed thereto at a second bonding strength |
US5444804A (en) * | 1993-07-29 | 1995-08-22 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. | Optical waveguide module |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of EP0821800A4 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR2730820B1 (en) | 1997-06-06 |
AU704852B2 (en) | 1999-05-06 |
KR19980702263A (en) | 1998-07-15 |
CA2210932A1 (en) | 1996-08-22 |
EP0821800A4 (en) | 1998-02-04 |
JPH11500239A (en) | 1999-01-06 |
FR2730820A1 (en) | 1996-08-23 |
AU4979396A (en) | 1996-09-04 |
EP0821800A1 (en) | 1998-02-04 |
CN1176006A (en) | 1998-03-11 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5444804A (en) | Optical waveguide module | |
JPH05224062A (en) | Method for reinforcing optical fiber | |
EP0355639B1 (en) | Tape core type coated optical fiber | |
EP0631160B1 (en) | Optical waveguide module | |
KR20010032647A (en) | Connection means for optical fibres | |
EP1336882B1 (en) | Optical fiber array | |
US5479548A (en) | Fiber-optic coupler package | |
JP3497510B2 (en) | Optical waveguide module | |
KR100217701B1 (en) | Optical device module and method for manufacturing thereof | |
US5960143A (en) | Protective housing for an integrated optical component | |
US5673345A (en) | Package with optical waveguide module mounted therein | |
AU704852B2 (en) | Protective housing for an integrated optical component | |
US4738505A (en) | Fiber optic cable termination | |
KR0170765B1 (en) | Method for encapsulating an optical component and the encapsulated component obtained thereby | |
JP2575383B2 (en) | Connection structure of tape-shaped multi-core optical fiber | |
JP3085344B2 (en) | Optical module | |
JPH07230010A (en) | Packaging structure of optical waveguide | |
JP3590126B2 (en) | Mounting structure of fiber type optical components | |
KR100204453B1 (en) | Optical waveguide module | |
JP3134677B2 (en) | Resin embedded optical waveguide device | |
JPH10206681A (en) | Optical waveguide module | |
JP3014250B2 (en) | Reinforced optical fiber coupler | |
US20040047571A1 (en) | Hermetically sealed ferrule | |
JPH08160250A (en) | Optical waveguide module | |
JPH07209546A (en) | Optical module |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 96191994.9 Country of ref document: CN |
|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AU CA CN JP KR US |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE |
|
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2210932 Country of ref document: CA Ref document number: 2210932 Country of ref document: CA Kind code of ref document: A |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 1996906405 Country of ref document: EP |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 1996 525086 Country of ref document: JP Kind code of ref document: A |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 1019970705660 Country of ref document: KR |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 08913005 Country of ref document: US |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 1996906405 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 1019970705660 Country of ref document: KR |
|
WWR | Wipo information: refused in national office |
Ref document number: 1019970705660 Country of ref document: KR |
|
WWR | Wipo information: refused in national office |
Ref document number: 1996906405 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Ref document number: 1996906405 Country of ref document: EP |