{
  "patent_number": "US 10761280",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "A Sealed, Stamped Metal Assembly for Guiding Light in Fiber Optics",
  "original_title": "Hermetic optical subassembly",
  "summary": "This patent describes a tiny, sealed optical assembly that uses precisely shaped metal parts and mirrors to guide light signals between a fiber optic cable and an electronic light-emitting or light-sensing device without needing lenses between the main mirrors.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent details a \"hermetic optical subassembly\" designed to precisely direct light signals. It includes a first metal part, called an \"optical bench,\" that holds an optical fiber and has a tiny mirror. A second metal optical bench also has a mirror. Between these two mirrors, light travels without passing through any lenses or prisms. A \"carrier\" holds a \"photonic device,\" which is something that either creates light (like a laser) or detects it (like a photodetector). All these parts are carefully aligned so light goes from the fiber, bounces off the first mirror, then the second mirror, and finally reaches the photonic device, or vice-versa. The entire assembly is sealed tightly, making it \"hermetic\" to protect the delicate components. The metal benches and their mirrors are made by \"stamping\" malleable metal, which allows for very precise shapes. For example, it could connect a laser to a fiber optic cable for high-speed internet.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover optical assemblies that use lenses or prisms directly between the two main mirrors to guide the light signal.",
    "Does not cover assemblies where the optical benches or mirrors are formed by methods other than stamping a malleable metal material.",
    "Does not cover non-hermetically sealed optical components, meaning it must be tightly sealed against outside elements.",
    "Does not cover direct fiber-to-device coupling without the use of two intermediate mirrors to redirect the optical path.",
    "Does not cover systems where the first optical bench, second optical bench, and carrier are not coupled together to form a single package."
  ],
  "filed": "2019-04-08",
  "granted": "2020-09-01",
  "expires": "2039-04-08",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Cudoquanta Florida",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/cudoquanta-florida",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Robert Ryan Vallance",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/robert-ryan-vallance"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jeremy Burke",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/jeremy-burke"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rand Dannenberg",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/rand-dannenberg"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 1,
  "tags": [
    "telecommunications",
    "semiconductors",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": "A hermetic optical subassembly includes an optical bench having a mirror directing optical signals to/from an optical waveguide, a carrier supporting a photonic device, and an intermediate optical bench having a mirror directing optical signals between the photonic device and the optical bench. The optical bench and the intermediate optical bench optically aligns the photonic device to the waveguide along a desired optical path. In one embodiment, the photonic device is an edge emitting laser (EML). The mirror of the optical bench may be passively aligned with the mirror of the intermediate optical bench. The assembled components are hermetically sealed. The body of the optical benches are preferably formed by stamping a malleable metal material to form precise geometries and surface features. In a further aspect, the hermetic optical subassembly integrates a multiplexer/demultiplexer, for directing optical signals between a single optical fiber and a plurality of photonic devices.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10761280/hermetic-optical-subassembly",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10761280/hermetic-optical-subassembly/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10761280",
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}