OPTICAL COMPONENT PACKAGING DEVICE

摘要

A packaging device (10) for protectively enclosing an optical component (12) in a substantially clean and anhydrous environment (26) without imparting undue mechanical stresses on the optical component (12) and adjacent segments of optical fiber (14) coupled thereto. An intermediate component (30) is used in combination with a sealing material (34) for sealing the fiber aperture (28) of a protective housing (22) while allowing an optical fiber (14) to extend therethrough. The protective housing (22) is made out of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that closely matches that of the optical fiber (14). A chain of materialCTE that includes the CTE of the intermediate component (30) is used in order to circumvent the need for a sealing material (34) having a high melting temperature. The packaging device (10) is also designed so as to reduce water ingress by optimizing the configuration of the sealing component (34) and adjacent structures.