Patent ID: 6588942
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A system for passively aligning an optical device with an end face of an optical fiber having a fiber core of a certain diameter, comprising:an optical device having an optical axis; a device package for containing the optical device, wherein a light passage is formed in an exterior portion of the device package, and the optical device is mounted in said package with a determined dimensional tolerance such as to maintain a certain alignment between the device and the light passage in the device package; and an adapter including an adapter body having a device receptacle formed to accept and secure the device package, and a connector receptacle formed to receive and secure a fiber connector that is attached to the optical fiber to provide the end face of the fiber; wherein a portion of the adapter body that forms the device receptacle comprises a compliant or elastomeric material that plastically deforms upon insertion of the device package so that the deformed material holds the package securely in place; and wherein the adapter body is constructed and arranged so that when the device package is secured in the device receptacle and the fiber connector is secured in the connector receptacle, the center of the fiber core at the end face of the fiber is substantially aligned with, the optical axis of the optical device through the light passage in the exterior portion of the device package.