Patent ID: 7290943

Claim:
A modular laser assembly comprising: a laser-fiber housing comprising a semiconductor laser optically coupled to an end of an optical fiber, the laser-fiber housing having electrical leads electrically coupled to the laser and extending from a front face of the laser-fiber housing, wherein the laser-fiber housing is compatible for mounting onto a mating section of a circuit board but is not compatible for mounting onto a mating section of a circuit board designed to mate with a butterfly package housing and wherein the laser-fiber housing is substantially cylindrical; a mounting platform comprising laser interfacing circuitry and contacts electrically coupled thereto, said mounting platform defining a slot for receiving the laser-fiber housing such that a portion of the laser-fiber housing extends to one side of the mounting platform and a portion of the laser-fiber housing extends to an opposite side of the mounting platform, wherein when said laser-fiber housing is mounted to the mounting platform the electrical leads are proximate and capable of being electrically coupled to the contacts on at least a first surface of the mounting platform, and a plurality of pins electrically coupled to said interfacing circuitry and extending laterally from opposing sides of the mounting platform; a temperature-controlling element for coupling to and controlling the temperature of the laser-fiber housing, wherein the temperature-controlling element is configured to be mounted to the laser-fiber housing such that the temperature-controlling element is substantially parallel to and adjacent a second surface of the mounting platform, and wherein the temperature-controlling element includes electrical leads capable of being electrically coupled to contacts on the second surface of the mounting platform; and wherein the dimensions of the mounting platform and the orientation, number, and dimension of the pins extending therefrom, and the dimensions of the laser-fiber housing and the temperature-controlling element are such that the modular laser assembly is compatible for mounting onto a mating section of a circuit board designed to mate with a butterfly package housing.