Patent ID: 6290401
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An automated chip holder for positioning an optical chip in a pigtailing system, said optical chip having a registration edge and a registration surface, wherein said automated chip holder positions said optical chip in a three dimensional space characterized by a rectangular coordinate system having an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, said automated chip holder comprising:a support base having a slide track disposed parallel to the x-axis;a registration member fixed relative to the support base for defining an alignment position in the three dimensional space;an adjustable chuck assembly slidably disposed on said slide track for moving the optical chip between a device interchange position and said alignment position, said adjustable chuck assembly being movable in the x-axis direction and adjustable in the z-axis direction in response to a force directed in the x-axis direction; anda drive unit connected to said adjustable chuck assembly for applying the x-axis force to said adjustable chuck assembly;wherein said registration member further comprises:an x-axis alignment reference for aligning the optical chip in an x-axis direction by aligning the registration edge to said x-axis reference;a z-axis alignment reference for aligning the optical chip in an z-axis direction by aligning the registration surface to said z-axis reference;a column member fixed to the support base and extending in a direction parallel to the z-axis, wherein the x-axis alignment reference is at least one surface of said column member;a cantilevered member fixed to said column member and extending in a direction parallel to the support base, wherein the z-axis alignment reference is a surface region of the cantilevered member; andan adjustable stop member movably connected to said cantilevered member, wherein the z-axis alignment reference is disposed between said adjustable stop member and said column member.