# A Sealed, Stamped Metal Assembly for Guiding Light in Fiber Optics > 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. - **Patent:** US 10761280 - **Original title:** Hermetic optical subassembly - **Owner:** Cudoquanta Florida - **Granted:** 2020 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 1 - **Field:** telecommunications, semiconductors, consumer_electronics, mechanical ## 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. ## The clever bit The clever part is using precisely stamped malleable metal to form the optical benches and their mirrors. This allows for very accurate alignment of light paths in a compact, robust, and hermetically sealed package, all without needing complex lenses between the main mirrors. ## Real-world examples 1. Fiber optic transceivers in data centers 2. Optical modules for 5G telecommunications infrastructure 3. High-speed optical interconnects for supercomputers 4. Sensors in harsh industrial environments 5. Components for long-haul fiber optic networks ## Why it matters This technology is important for creating reliable and compact optical communication components. By precisely aligning and sealing these tiny light-guiding parts, it helps ensure that high-speed data signals can travel long distances without degradation. This is crucial for data centers, telecommunications networks, and other applications where optical signals are used to transmit vast amounts of information quickly and dependably. The robust, sealed design protects sensitive components from environmental damage. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does A Sealed, Stamped Metal Assembly for Guiding Light in Fiber Optics cover? 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. ### Who owns patent US 10761280? Cudoquanta Florida owns this patent, granted in 2020. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on April 8, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10761280 cited by? This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology is important for creating reliable and compact optical communication components. By precisely aligning and sealing these tiny light-guiding parts, it helps ensure that high-speed data signals can travel long distances without degradation. This is crucial for data centers, telecommunications networks, and other applications where optical signals are used to transmit vast amounts of information quickly and dependably. The robust, sealed design protects sensitive components from environmental damage. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover optical assemblies that use lenses or prisms directly between the two main mirrors to guide the light signal. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10761280/hermetic-optical-subassembly **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10761280 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [A Stamped Mirror to Connect Optical Fibers to Tiny Light Chips](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12422629/optical-connection-of-optical-fibers-to-grating-couplers) — This patent describes a method to precisely connect a standard optical fiber to a tiny light-based computer chip (a photonic integrated circuit) using a specially shaped, stamped mirror that redirects and reshapes the light. - [How to Precisely Connect Light Chips to Optical Fibers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11150423/optical-and-thermal-interface-for-photonic-integrated-circuits) — This patent describes a clever way to accurately align tiny light-emitting components inside a photonic chip with an external optical connector, using a built-in alignment mark and a viewing hole. - [How to Build a Compact Optical Transmitter for Data Networks](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11355900/small-form-factor-transmitting-device) — This patent describes a tiny, self-contained package for an optical transmitter that includes a laser, a cooling system, and lenses, all precisely aligned to send light signals into an optical fiber. - [A Photonic Chip Package with Edge Fiber Connections](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10598860/photonic-die-fan-out-package-with-edge-fiber-coupling-interface-and-related-meth) — This patent describes a compact package for a photonic chip that integrates electrical components and short optical fibers, allowing direct connection to external optical cables from the side. - [Routing Light Between Fiber Cores Using Special Reflectors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11646794/fiber-optic-connectors-and-connectorized-fiber-optic-cables-that-include-integra) — This patent describes a fiber optic connector that uses tiny, specially designed reflectors called holographic Bragg gratings to precisely guide light signals from one optical fiber to multiple other fibers, even separating different colors (wavelengths) of light.