Interposer with Separable Interface and Expanded Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiber optic interposers face issues with misalignment and debris interference due to disparate thermal expansion coefficients of components, leading to optical degradation during temperature cycles, and lack a separable interface to disconnect electrical/optical components from optical conduits effectively.
Innovation Solution
The interposer features a separable interface along an optical path with an expanded beam and is constructed using silicon-based or glass-based materials to minimize thermal expansion differences, with lenses and a reflective surface to maintain alignment and an air gap to prevent debris trapping, ensuring reliable optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymeric-molded and silicon-based components are used to define optical paths, then manufacturing is easier, but optical degradation occurs during temperature cycles due to disparate thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using silicon-based materials for both the optical component substrate and the optical path definition structures. This ensures that all components experience identical thermal expansion characteristics, eliminating misalignment issues during temperature cycles while maintaining manufacturability through standard silicon fabrication processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separable interface is introduced to disconnect optical components from conduits, then adaptability and ease of assembly improve, but misalignment and debris interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary expanded beam section between the separable optical components and conduits. This expanded beam acts as a tolerance buffer that accommodates minor misalignments at the separable interface, thereby maintaining optical coupling efficiency despite the presence of gaps and potential debris, while preserving the adaptability benefits of separability.
3Reliability
If beam size is increased to reduce misalignment sensitivity, then alignment tolerance improves, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial expansion by creating an expanded beam section that is larger than the original optical mode but not excessively large. This partial expansion provides sufficient alignment tolerance to accommodate separable interface variations while limiting the increase in overall device size and complexity by only expanding the beam where necessary at the separable interface location.
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 design reduces misalignment and debris interference, maintaining optical alignment and performance across thermal cycles while allowing for efficient disconnection of optical components, enhancing the reliability and durability of fiber optic systems.
Implementation Method 1
an expanded-beam coupling therebetween; a first optical path at least partially defined between said optical component and said first lens to accommodate a diverging light beam from said optical component to said first lens; a second optical path at least partially defined between said second lens and said at least one reflective surface to accommodate a converging light beam from said second lens
Implementation Method 2
the optical path(s) of the interposer are defined in a silicon-based material and/or a glass-based material such that differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the different components, e.g., the lens components, are minimal. Such a feature is beneficial in that, as the interposer undergoes thermal cycling, the optical elements in the interposer will remain aligned as they tend to shrink and expand together.
Implementation Method 3
a second optical path at least partially defined between said second lens and said at least one reflective surface to accommodate a converging light beam from said second lens and said at least one reflective surface
Data Source
AI summary
An interposer for coupling an optical conduit to an optical component, said interposer comprising: (a) an optical component; (b) a first lens component having a first lens; (c) a second lens component having a second lens, said first and second lenses being configured to define an expanded-beam coupling therebetween; (d) at least one reflective surface optically coupled with said second lens; (e) a first optical path at least partially defined between said optical component and said first lens to accommodate a diverging light beam from said optical component to said first lens; (f) a second optical path at least partially defined between said second lens and said at least one reflective surface to accommodate a converging light beam from said second lens and said at least one reflective surface; and (g) a separable interface along said second optical path or at said expanded-beam coupling.