Low Cost Optoelectronic Packages: Development of a Fast Alignment Technique and a Stable Bonding Process for Singlemode Optical Fibers

摘要

Optical fiber alignment and fixing processes are still today the most critical and cost intensive steps in the manufacturing of optoelectronic modules. With standard coarse alignment scanning routines, the optical fiber alignment time can be as large as 5 to 10 minutes. Here, using a combination of pattern recognition for the coarse alignment and fine alignment algorithms, we have reduced the fiber alignment time to less than 90 s. Once properly aligned, the fiber fixing technique must maintain the required positioning accuracy over time. In this work, we have developed an adhesive bonding process to fix an optical fiber on a laser carrier. A fiber offset was introduced to compensate for the adhesive shrinkage upon polymerization. The assembly can withstand pull load over 2 kg and thermal cycling between 25°C and 80°C over one week without degradation of the optical coupling efficiency.