Aligning optical components in a multichannel receiver or transmitter platform

摘要

Embodiments described herein describe a sub-mount that is etched to include respective cavities with at least two adjacent sides that align optical filters and a mirror. Moreover, the cavities are arranged on the sub-mount such that when the filters and mirror are disposed in the cavities, they align in a manner that enables the performance of a multiplexing or demultiplexing function as part of, for example, a zigzag multiplexer/demultiplexer. In one embodiment, the filters and mirrors are aligned passively rather than actively. The sub-mount may then be placed on a substrate that includes other components of a ROSA or TOSA. In one embodiment, the substrate is also etched to include a cavity two adjacent sides to align the sub-mount so that sub-mount is passively aligned once disposed into the cavity.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
disposing a mirror into a first cavity of a substrate such that respective surfaces of the mirror and first cavity are brought into contact and arrange the mirror and first cavity into a first predetermined relationship with one another; disposing an optical filter into a second cavity of the substrate such that respective surfaces of the optical filter and second cavity are brought into contact and arrange the optical filter and second cavity into a second predetermined relationship with one another, wherein the first and second cavities are arranged relative to each other so that disposing the mirror and optical filter cause the mirror and the optical filter to be passively aligned to perform one of a demultiplexing and multiplexing function using an optical signal incident on the optical filter; and after disposing the mirror and the optical filter onto the substrate, disposing the substrate into a third cavity on a different substrate, wherein the different substrate comprises at least one optical component configured to one of receive a single-wavelength optical signal from the optical filter and transmit the single-wavelength optical signal to the optical filter.