Active Alignment of Optical Transceivers Using Piezoelectric Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment between optical transceivers and reflectors on circuit boards is often sub-optimal due to manufacturing errors and environmental changes, leading to signal attenuation and misalignment, which can be costly to correct and affect data transmission speeds.
Innovation Solution
A system with actuators that actively align optical transceivers and reflectors within the circuit board, allowing for precise movement and tilting along multiple axes to ensure optimal alignment, even after manufacturing, and in response to environmental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If passive alignment with micrometer-level precision is used during manufacturing, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements active alignment using piezoelectric actuators that dynamically adjust the position of optical components (transceivers or reflectors) after manufacturing. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the system to achieve and maintain optimal alignment without requiring micrometer-level precision during the manufacturing process, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while preserving alignment quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If strict alignment tolerances are enforced during manufacturing, then alignment quality is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs piezoelectric actuators that enable post-manufacturing adjustment of optical components. This dynamic correction capability relaxes the alignment tolerance requirements during manufacturing, allowing for simpler manufacturing processes and reduced device complexity while maintaining high alignment quality through active compensation.
3Productivity
If optical cables are placed on top of the circuit board to route optical signals, then data transmission capability is improved, but airflow obstruction increases and cooling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds optical cables within the internal layers of the circuit board structure, nesting them between conductive layers. This nesting approach allows optical signals to be transmitted without obstructing airflow on the board surface, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency while preserving data transmission capability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If optical cables are embedded within the circuit board, then airflow is improved and cooling efficiency increases, but alignment precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses piezoelectric actuators to provide active alignment compensation for embedded optical components. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the system to meet stringent alignment precision requirements for embedded cables without compromising airflow quality, as the actuators can fine-tune component positions after manufacturing to achieve optimal alignment.
5Reliability
If active alignment with piezoelectric actuators is implemented, then alignment stability over time is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements active alignment using piezoelectric actuators that can dynamically adjust and maintain optimal alignment between optical components. This dynamic system compensates for manufacturing errors, thermal expansion, and mechanical stress over time, significantly improving alignment stability and reliability despite the increased device complexity introduced by the actuator mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This active alignment system improves data transmission reliability and reduces manufacturing costs by maintaining optimal alignment over time, enhancing data transmission speeds and reducing mechanical stress on optical components.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator may be a piezoelectric actuator configured to transform electrical energy to mechanical energy so as to displace the optical transceiver along an optical axis
Implementation Method 2
a reflector may reflect a signal from the optical transmitter into the transparent layer
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (122) for positioning an optical transceiver (205) relative to a reflector (218) in a multi-layer circuit board (160) is presented. The apparatus includes an optical transceiver (205), a housing (203) in which the optical transceiver (205) is located, a first platform (410), a second platform (420) offset from the first platform (410), and a frame (450) surrounding the second platform (420). The first platform (410) has a first side (413) and a second side (414) opposite the first side (413). The housing (203) is attached to the first side (413). The apparatus further includes a set of actuators comprising a first actuator (442), a second actuator (443), and a third actuator (445), which are connected to the second side (414), and includes a fourth actuator (441) and a fifth actuator (444). Each of the first, second, and third actuators is connected to a first side (421) of the second platform, and is configured such that each can be controlled to move the transceiver (205) by moving along a first axis that is orthogonal to the first side of the second platform, thereby moving the first platform (410). The fourth actuator (441) is attached to the frame and is operable to displace the second platform along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis. The fifth actuator (444) is attached to the frame and is operable to displace the second platform along a third axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and to the second axis.