Patent ID: 7322751

Claim:
A method for orienting an optical waveguide in relation to an optical unit arranged in or on an optical module, the optical unit comprising an optical axis along which light is emitted or received by the optical unit, and the optical module comprising a reference geometry, which defines a first axis of symmetry, comprising: providing a housing that generally defines the reference geometry, wherein the optical unit is enveloped in a transparent potting material within the housing; determining a magnitude and direction of an offset between the optical axis of the optical unit and the first axis of symmetry of the reference geometry; providing a coupling element which serves to receive an optical waveguide that is to be oriented in relation to the optical unit for coupling thereto, wherein the coupling element comprises a hole defined by an internal contour thereof, the internal contour defining a second axis of symmetry, wherein the coupling element further comprises an external contour that defines a third axis of symmetry, and wherein the coupling element is selected from a plurality of coupling elements that each have differing offsets between their respective second axis of symmetry and third axis of symmetry, such that the offset between the second axis of symmetry and third axis of symmetry of the coupling element is essentially equal to the offset between the first axis of symmetry and the optical axis of the optical unit; arranging the coupling element in relation to the reference geometry of the optical module such that the second axis of symmetry coincides with the optical axis of the optical unit, wherein the first axis of symmetry and the second axis of symmetry run generally parallel to one another and have an offset with respect to one another that corresponds to an offset between the optical axis of the optical unit and the first axis of symmetry of the reference geometry, wherein the third axis of symmetry lies on the first axis of symmetry; and fixing the provided coupling element to the optical module, wherein the offset between the second and third axes of symmetry is essentially equal to the offset between the first axis of symmetry and the optical axis.