How to Build a Compact Optical Transmitter for Data Networks
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.
Original patent title: “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. Granted to Marvell Asia Pte in 2022 with 22 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2040.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a compact, packaged optical transmitter device. It uses a base member with a flat part that holds a thermoelectric cooler module, a transmitter module, and an optical coupling lens, along with an assembling part on its side (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). A circuit board is bent so one end connects to the cooler and transmitter on the flat part, while the other end, raised higher, has an electrical port for outside connections (Claim 1). A cover sits over the main components. Crucially, a cylindrical part attaches to the assembling part, holding an isolator and a second lens, which are precisely aligned to guide the light signal from the transmitter into an external optical fiber (Claim 1). For example, this design allows a tiny laser diode (Claim 3) to be kept at a stable temperature by the cooler (Claim 2) and its light accurately directed into a hair-thin fiber.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover optical transmitters that do not use a thermoelectric cooler for temperature regulation.
- Does not cover devices where the circuit board is not bent or where its electrical port is not raised to a higher level.
- Does not cover optical coupling systems that lack both an isolator and a second lens for connecting to an optical fiber.
- Does not cover packaging where the optical components cannot be precisely aligned using specific plane and distance adjusting mechanisms.
- Does not cover the individual components like laser diodes or isolators when they are not part of this specific integrated package.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the highly integrated and adjustable packaging design. It combines thermal control, a bended circuit board for space efficiency, and multiple lenses with precise alignment mechanisms into a single, small form factor, ensuring stable and efficient optical signal coupling.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
QSFP-DD optical transceivers
Coherent optical modules for long-haul networks
Transmitter components in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) systems
High-speed optical interconnects for data centers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the challenge of making optical transmitters smaller, more reliable, and easier to manufacture. By integrating thermal management, precise optical alignment, and electrical connections into a single, compact package, it enables higher data rates and greater density in network equipment. This is vital for modern data centers and telecommunication networks that demand ever-increasing bandwidth in smaller physical footprints.
Filed
December 8, 2020
Granted
June 7, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Marvell Asia Pte Ltd, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a significant player in data infrastructure, including optical modules. Other major companies in the optical transceiver market, such as Broadcom, Lumentum, and Coherent, are also actively developing and manufacturing similar compact optical packaging solutions to meet the demands of high-speed data transmission.
Market impact
This type of integrated packaging has enabled the development of smaller, more power-efficient, and higher-bandwidth optical modules. It has directly supported the rapid growth of data centers and 5G networks by allowing for greater port density and reduced energy consumption in network equipment. This innovation helps to lower operational costs and increase the overall capacity of global communication infrastructure.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a compact, packaged optical transmitter device. It uses a base member with a flat part that holds a thermoelectric cooler module, a transmitter module, and an optical coupling lens, along with an assembling part on its side (Claim 1). A circuit board is bent so one end connects to the cooler and transmitter on the flat part, while the other end, raised higher, has an electrical port for outside connections (Claim 1). A cover sits over the main components. Crucially, a cylindrical part attaches to the assembling part, holding an isolator and a second lens, which are precisely aligned to guide the light signal from the transmitter into an external optical fiber (Claim 1). For example, this design allows a tiny laser diode (Claim 3) to be kept at a stable temperature by the cooler (Claim 2) and its light accurately directed into a hair-thin fiber.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the highly integrated and adjustable packaging design. It combines thermal control, a bended circuit board for space efficiency, and multiple lenses with precise alignment mechanisms into a single, small form factor, ensuring stable and efficient optical signal coupling.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover optical transmitters that do not use a thermoelectric cooler for temperature regulation.
- Does not cover devices where the circuit board is not bent or where its electrical port is not raised to a higher level.
- Does not cover optical coupling systems that lack both an isolator and a second lens for connecting to an optical fiber.
- Does not cover packaging where the optical components cannot be precisely aligned using specific plane and distance adjusting mechanisms.
- Does not cover the individual components like laser diodes or isolators when they are not part of this specific integrated package.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$70K – $225K
Midpoint $140K · 14.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Law, P., Nagarajan, R. L., & Li, P. (2022). How to Build a Compact Optical Transmitter for Data Networks (U.S. Patent No. 11,355,900). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11355900/small-form-factor-transmitting-device
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Build a Compact Optical Transmitter for Data Networks cover?
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.
Who owns patent US 11355900?
Marvell Asia Pte owns this patent, granted in 2022.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 8, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11355900 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the challenge of making optical transmitters smaller, more reliable, and easier to manufacture. By integrating thermal management, precise optical alignment, and electrical connections into a single, compact package, it enables higher data rates and greater density in network equipment. This is vital for modern data centers and telecommunication networks that demand ever-increasing bandwidth in smaller physical footprints.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover optical transmitters that do not use a thermoelectric cooler for temperature regulation.
Patent monitoring