Abstract:
An optical communication system including an integrated circuit chip, an electro-optical chip operatively integrated on the integrated circuit chip, an adjustable optical chip which includes at least one optical element disposed between the electro-optical chip and one of a source or recipient of at least one optical signal, at least one micromachine operatively coupled to the at least one optical element to selectively manipulate the at least one optical element; an optical signal sensor disposed relative to the at least one optical signal to sense an optical signal condition data, and to transmit said optical signal condition data to the integrated circuit chip, a feedback circuit between the integrated circuit chip and the at least one micromachine, the integrated circuit chip configured to receive the optical signal condition data, convert it to a corresponding feedback signal, and to transmit the feedback signal through the feedback circuit to the micromachine, thereby causing the micromachine to selectively manipulate the at least one optical element to alter the optical signal.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention pertains to an optical chip which uses micromachine controlled optical elements and a feedback signal system to maximize the optical coupling of the system. The feedback signal received by the micromachine is correlated to an optical signal parameter, and the micromachine in turn manipulates the optical element to alter the optical signal parameter.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Optical communication systems are becoming more predominant in the telecommunication industry. In optical communication systems, the optical alignment of sources, connectors, detectors and other optical elements is important to the efficient operation of such systems. Prior alignment systems are not believed to be suitable for numerous closely spaced optical signals.  
           [0003]    The alignment and optimization of optical elements can be degraded due to any one of a number of reasons, such as without limitation assembly produced tolerance, temperature effects and thermal mismatching, and environmental conditions such as vibration. Misalignment or the failure to initially, periodically and/or continuously optimize the relative alignment may entirely destroy an optical link, or produce unacceptably high bit errors.  
           [0004]    As data transfer and other communications systems will continue to require more bandwidth and more highly parallel optical systems are further developed, a reliable and robust system to align and/or optimize the alignment of such optical communication systems will be desired.  
           [0005]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new adjustable optical chip micromachine coupling system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Aspects of this invention include an adjustable optical chip with optical elements disposed to receive optical signals, micromachines operatively coupled to each of the optical elements selectively manipulate the optical elements in an optical path of the optical signal. This invention also includes a feedback circuit coupled to the micromachines, which are disposed to receive a feedback signal from the feedback circuit, wherein the feedback signals are correlated to an optical signal parameter and a corresponding selective manipulation of the plurality of optical elements by the micromachine. The manipulation of the optical element alters the optical signal parameter. The optical elements may be any one of a number of different types or kinds of optical elements, such as a diffractive or refractive optics, a combined micromirror and optical lens or just a micromirror. This aspect of the invention may also be part of an optical communications system which would further include an integrated circuit chip and an electro-optical chip integrated on the integrated circuit chip.  
           [0007]    Further aspects of the invention may be an embodiment such as wherein the optical signal source is an optical connector, an optical chip on a second and adjacent integrated circuit chip and/or an optical multilayer board. The integrated circuit chip may also be mounted on a system circuit board.  
           [0008]    A further aspect of this invention may be an embodiment wherein the integrated circuit chip and the electro-optical chip comprise one chip in any one of a number of ways, such as by flip-chip bonding. It will further be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that further embodiments may be a configuration wherein the optical signal parameter and the optical signal condition data are the same.  
           [0009]    This invention further contemplates process embodiments in an optical communication system, such as a method for adjusting an optical signal parameter. This method would generally involve transmitting the optical signal through the optical element, sensing optical signal condition data related to an optical signal parameter, transmitting a feedback signal to the micromachine , the feedback signal corresponding to the optical signal condition data, and then selectively manipulating the at least one optical element with the micromachine to alter the optical signal parameter.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings depicting examples embodying the best mode for practicing the invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of an adjustable optical chip micromachine coupling system contemplated by this invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of an adjustable optical chip micromachine coupling system as contemplated by this invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of another embodiment of an adjustable optical chip micromachine coupling system as contemplated by this invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one possible use of optical signal condition data; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an adjustable optical chip micromachine coupling system contemplated by this invention, showing an electro-optical portion, an integrated circuit portion and an interface portion integrated into one chip. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Many of the manufacturing, fastening, connection, integration, electrical connection and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art or science; therefore, they will not be discussed in significant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application or embodiment of any element may already be widely known or used in the art or by persons skilled in the art or science; therefore, each will not be discussed in significant detail.  
         [0017]    The terms “a”, “an”, and “the” as used in the claims herein are used in conformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way. Accordingly, unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean “at least one”.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of an adjustable optical chip micromachine coupling system  100  as contemplated by this invention, illustrating integrated circuit chip  103 , electro-optical chip  102  and optical component  110 . The integrated circuit  103  may be mounted to system board  104  by any one of a number of known means, including without limitation through solder ball grid array beads  108 .  
         [0019]    Optical chip  101  is disposed between electro optical chip  102  and optical component  110 . Optical waves  133 ,  137  and  141  are shown between optical component  110  and electro-optical chip  102  and may be traveling in either or both directions through optical elements  130 ,  134  and  138 , respectively. Optical elements  130 ,  134  and  138  may be operably attached or mounted to, or contained within, optical chip  101  via any one of a number of known means. Optical signals  133 ,  137  and  141  pass through optical signal passageways  132 ,  136  and  140 , respectively, for transmission with electro-optical chip  102 .  
         [0020]    The optical elements  130 ,  134  and  138  are controlled within the contemplation of this invention by micromachines or micro electronic machines on or within optical chip  101 . Control components  131 ,  135  and  139  control optical elements  130 ,  134  and  138 , respectively. Electro-optical chip  102  may be any one of a number of different types of electro-optical chips  102 , including a laser and/or a detector chip. The electro-optical chip  102  may contain high-speed lasers such as vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, or high speed photodetectors, or both. Electro-optical chip  102  emits, transmits and/or receives optical signals via emitter/receivers  142 ,  143  and  144 .  
         [0021]    Optical component  110  may be any one of a number of optical components, including an optical connector, an optical multi-layer board, an optical chip on an adjacent board, or others, within the contemplation of this invention. Optical component  110  may include optical signal emitters/receivers  145 ,  146  and  147  through which optical signals are emitted, transmitted, detected or received. In the embodiment when optical component  110  is an optical multilayer board, optical waves  133 ,  137 ,  141  are coupled to the waveguides of the multilayer board by optical elements such as diffractive gratings on the multilayer board.  
         [0022]    In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, optical chip  101  is mounted directly to integrated circuit chip  103  via any one of a number of known means, including without limitation, solder ball technology.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 illustrates first feedback signal  111  and second feedback signal  112  being transmitted from integrated circuit chip  103  to optical chip  101 . Optical chip  101  includes first feedback circuit  150  and second feedback circuit  151  which provide the means through which one or more feedback signals may be transmitted to micromachines controlling optical elements  130 ,  134  and  138 .  
         [0024]    Optical chip  101  is shown electrically connected to integrated circuit chip  103  through first solder ball connectors  107  and second solder ball connectors  106 , and electro-optical chip  102  is illustrated operatively connected or integrated with integrated circuit chip  103  via solder balls  105 . Integrated circuit chip  103  is shown attached, operatively attached, connected, or integrated with system board  104  via balls  108 . Although solder balls are shown as a means of operatively connecting or integrating various components illustrated in FIG. 1, this invention is not limited to the use of solder balls for such integration but instead the components may be attached in any one of a number of known ways, including without limitation wire-bonds and stud-bonds. In some embodiments of the invention , optical chip  101 , electro-optical chip  102  and integrated circuit  103  may also be integrated on one chip, as shown more fully in FIG. 5.  
         [0025]    Feedback circuit  150  may be electrically connected to any one or more of the micromachines controlling the optical elements on optical chip  101 , and feedback signal leads  152 ,  153  and  154  respectively connect either first feedback circuit  150  and/or second feedback circuit  151  to optical elements  130 ,  134  and  138 .  
         [0026]    Although three optical elements and corresponding components are shown for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that no particular configuration or number of optical elements is required to practice this invention. It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that micromachine controlled optical elements provide the optical coupling between the electro-optical chip, a laser/detector chip, and the connectors or other optical paths of the optical communications systems, which are depicted by optical component  110 . The feedback signals, which may be the first feedback signal and/or the second feedback signal, are drive signals from the integrated circuit chip  103  to optical chip  101  and may be low frequency electrical signals, which may make the connection between the integrated circuit chip  103  and optical chip  101  easier to achieve. The feedback signals will automatically position the optical elements to achieve maximum optical coupling through positioning and steering of the optical elements, to alter an optical signal parameter such as power.  
         [0027]    The optical elements may be any one of a number of different known optical elements, including lenses, mirrors, diffractive elements, holograms, or combinations of these elements. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the optical elements may also be used for coupling the optical signals through free space transmission to another or similar configuration as shown in FIG. 1. By utilizing the feedback signal to the micromachines and thereby altering the one or more optical signal parameters, the optical coupling between the components may be bettered or optimized automatically and continuously within the contemplation of this invention.  
         [0028]    In an embodiment, the integrated circuit chip  103  would receive optical signal condition data from one or more sensors in the optical communication system. In one implementation, the optical signal condition data is transmitted optically to optical chip  101  and received by photodetectors on the electro-optical integrated electro-optical chip  102 . The data is transferred via solder balls  105  to integrated circuit chip  103  for processing.  
         [0029]    The integrated circuit chip may receive information related to coupling efficiency and other data related to the optical signals measured by the sensor, such as the optical power or bit error rate in the link. Based upon the condition data received by the integrated circuit chip  103 , the integrated circuit chip would perform processing of the data and provide the drive signal or feedback signals  111  and  112  to optical chip  101  to make the appropriate changes in the optical elements  130 ,  134  and/or  138 .  
         [0030]    The feedback signals may be specific to one or more, or all, of the micromachines and optical elements  130 ,  134  and  138 , in controlling the system.  
         [0031]    It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the electro-optical chip  102  shown is exemplary and may contain semiconductor lasers such as Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL), and/or high speed detectors, which may possibly be integrated with micro-optics to facilitate the optical coupling. The electro-optical chip may also be integrated chips or multi-chip modules within the contemplation of the invention and depending on the application. The electro-optical chips will generally perform any one or more of numerous potential functions, such as electrical to optical conversion, switching and/or routing of data, wavelength conversion, data rate conversion (such as high to low), amplification, and/or other functions.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of this invention, showing that the optical element is originally oriented in first step  170 . The optical signal is received and transmitted or forwarded by the optical element per step  171 , and a sensor then senses the optical signal received from the optical element and senses optical signal condition data in step  172 . At step  173 , if the optical signal condition sensed for is present (for instance sensed to determine if the signal is in an optimum range), then a feedback signal is transmitted to the micromachine controlling the optical element at step  175  in order to make the appropriate adjustment to the optical element. Once the appropriate adjustment is made to the optical element, the system continues to sense the optical signal for further signal condition data for further and continuous monitoring and adjusting of the optical element.  
         [0033]    If at step  173  the optical signal condition sensed is not present, the system continues to maintain the optical element as last oriented and continues to sense the optical signal condition data for the condition which is out of the predetermined tolerance or condition for the optical element.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of this invention, showing that the optical element is originally oriented in first step  270 . The optical signal is received and transmitted or forwarded by the optical element per step  271 , and a sensor then senses the optical signal received from the optical element and senses optical signal condition data in step  272 . At step  273 , if the optical signal is optimum or in an optimum range, then a signal  274  is transmitted to the micromachine controlling the optical element at step  278  and the optical elements are fixed or retained as is. Once the optical element is fixed or set, the system would periodically continue to sense the optical signal for further signal condition data for further and continuous monitoring and adjusting of the optical element.  
         [0035]    If at step  273  the optical signal sensed is not in the desired optimum range, at step or item  175 , the system transmits a feedback signal  176  to the optical element to initiate or cause an adjustment of the optical element.  
         [0036]    The micromachine controlled reflective surfaces or micromirrors may be practiced in any one of a number of ways within the contemplation of this invention, one exemplary way being that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,21 5,222, for an “Optical Cross-Connect Switch Using Electrostatic Surface Actuators”, which is incorporated herein by this reference.  
         [0037]    In embodiments of the invention, the optical signal condition data may utilize a dedicated sensor to obtain or create the optical signal data, but the invention does not necessarily require a dedicated sensor. For example, in the fiber optic link as depicted in FIG. 4, transmitter  300  on first optical chip  308  sends optical data  301  to receiver  302  on second optical chip  305 . Receiver  302  may then generate optical signal data  303  (such as the optical power level) to transmitter  304 , which transmits optical signal data  306  to receiver  307  on first optical chip  308 .  
         [0038]    The positions of the micro-lens can be adjusted with high precision insteps of an few microns using low voltage signals. This is described for instance in Storrs Haen et al (Hewlett Packard Laboratories), “Electrostatic Surface Devices: Theoretical Considerations and Fabrication”, as presented at the 1997 International Conference on Solid Sate Sensors and Actuators, Chicago, Jun. 16-19 1997.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of an adjustable optical chip micromachine coupling system contemplated by this invention, showing an electro-optical portion, an integrated circuit portion and an interface portion integrated into one chip. There are like items in FIG. 5 from FIG. 1 which are similarly numbered, with FIG. 5 illustrating an integrated chip configuration, showing an interface portion  160  or zone, an electro-optical portion  161  or zone, and an integrated circuit portion  162  or zone.  
         [0040]    One embodiment of this invention for example utilizes micro-lens supported by electrostatic dipole surface drives capable of precise movement controls.  
         [0041]    As will be appreciated by those of reasonable skill in the art, there are numerous embodiments to this invention, and variations of elements and components which may be used, all within the scope of this invention.  
         [0042]    In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.