V-Groove Fiber Alignment Fixture with Tilted Force Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passive attachment methods for optical fibers to photonic integrated circuits (PICs) face challenges with inconsistent seating due to lateral misalignment and inadequate force transfer, particularly when the I/O interface is not perfectly normal to the pressing force, and soft materials used for lids can become damaged.
Innovation Solution
A passive alignment system utilizing a tip with a vacuum force and a carriage with elastic biasing elements allows the output frame to tilt relative to the input frame, enabling precise force transfer and alignment of fibers into V-grooves, using a glass plate for curing radiation and light-curable adhesive for secure bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a lid or spacer made of soft material is used to press fibers into V-grooves, then the pressing force is applied to the fibers, but the soft material fails to effectively transfer the pressing force and becomes damaged during pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the durable but ineffective soft lid with a disposable soft fiber that is consumed during the process. The soft fiber is pressed into the V-groove and remains there, serving its purpose of guiding the optical fiber without needing to be recovered or reused, thus eliminating the durability problem of reusable lids
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hard intermediary object (hard rod or hard needle) that transfers the pressing force from the mounting member to the soft fiber. This hard intermediary effectively transmits the force without being damaged, while the soft fiber performs the function of guiding the optical fiber into the V-groove
2Adaptability or versatility
If the I/O interface plane is not arranged normal to the pressing force direction, then lateral misalignment of the ribbon is tolerated, but inconsistent seating across multiple fibers results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses individual soft fibers for each V-groove position rather than a single rigid lid. Each soft fiber can independently adapt to its local V-groove geometry and positioning requirements, ensuring consistent seating for each fiber while allowing for variations in the overall I/O interface plane orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the pressing and alignment function into multiple independent soft fibers, each corresponding to a specific V-groove. This segmentation allows each fiber to be precisely positioned and pressed independently, ensuring consistent seating across multiple fibers even when the I/O interface plane is not perfectly normal to the pressing force
3Manufacturing precision
If active attachment methods are used with careful precise alignment, then fiber placement accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs soft fibers that automatically self-align with the V-grooves through their flexibility and conformability. The soft fiber's ability to bend and adapt to the V-groove geometry eliminates the need for complex active alignment mechanisms, achieving precise fiber placement through the material's inherent properties rather than complex positioning systems
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 solution ensures consistent seating of fibers across multiple PICs with improved force distribution, reducing damage to the lid and achieving reliable optical coupling, even with imperfect initial alignment, and allows for 360° flexibility in force application.
Implementation Method 1
a tip, such as a vacuum tip for lifting a plate and applying a vacuum force to the plate
Implementation Method 2
The one or more biasing elements may enable the output frame to tilt relative to the input frame toward any one direction within a range of up to 360° around an axis of the pressing force
Implementation Method 3
Light-curable adhesive, such as epoxy, may be applied to either or both of the I/O interface and the fibers themselves before the pressing step and cured during or after the pressing step
Data Source
AI summary
A system for passive alignment of fibers to an interface of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes an input frame, an actuator, and an output frame. The actuator arranged to apply force along a force axis to the input frame. The output frame including a tip for picking up a plate and transferring the force thereto, the output frame being connected to the input frame such that the output frame may tilt relative to the input frame and the output frame is elastically biased relative to the input frame into a position wherein the tip is aligned on the force axis.