Importance

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Abstract

A microactuator for precisely aligning an optical fiber with an optical device includes a carrier having at least one bimorphic actuator which bends or deflects in response to electrical stimuli to thereby controllably position the carrier and, in turn, an optical fiber mounted on the carrier, with an optical device, such as a laser diode. The bimorphic actuator includes first and second layers of first and second materials, respectively, which respond differently to electrical stimuli. For example, the first and second materials can have different coefficients of thermal expansion or one of the materials can be a piezoelectric material such that application of electrical stimuli to the bimorphic actuator will deflect the actuator by a precisely controllable amount. The carrier can also be mounted on an alignment support structure such that upon deflecting the bimorphic actuator is urged against a portion of the alignment support structure so as to move the carrier relative to the alignment support structure. Thus, by maintaining the alignment support structure in a fixed relation to the optical device, the carrier and, in turn, the optical fiber mounted on the carrier can be positioned in precise alignment with the optical device.

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First Claim