Optical components

Abstract

A method of making an opto-electronic component (13) comprises inserting a pre-assembled device carrier (1) into a mould, filling the mould (2) with light and/or thermally curable material, optically aligning the device assembly and, on achieving optical alignment, at least partially curing the material.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of making an optical component comprising the steps of: inserting an optical device disposed on an associated device carrier into a mould,   filling the mould with curable material,   optically aligning the device and its carrier with respect to the mould and, on achieving alignment, at least partially curing the material, and   removing the device carrier now permanently disposed within said at least partially cured material from said mould.   
     
     
       2. A method of making an optical component which comprises the steps of: inserting an optical component mounted on a support structure into a mould,   filling the mould with curable material,   optically aligning the optical component .Iadd.and its support structure .Iaddend.with respect to the mould,   curing the material to form an alignment shell about the .[.device carrier.]. .Iadd.optical component and its support structure.Iaddend., and   removing the .[.device carrier.]. .Iadd.optical component and its support structure .Iaddend.now permanently disposed within said material from said mould.   
     
     
       3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said material is a radiation curable material. 
     
     
       4. A method as in claim 3, wherein the material is curable by irradiation with UV radiation. 
     
     
       5. A method as in claim 1, further, comprising curing of said material at elevated temperature. 
     
     
       6. An optical component comprising: a support structure and an optical component mounted thereon, and an alignment shell premanently disposed about the support structure and optical component, said shell being formed of cured material, said cured material presenting a free outer surface for mating engagement with an optical connector.Iadd., and said support structure and optical component being aligned with a portion of said outer surface of the alignment shell.Iaddend..   
     
     
       7. A component as in claim 6, wherein the optical component is an opto-electronic component capable of converting light into an electric signal. 
     
     
       8. A component as in claim 6, wherein the optical component is an opto-electronic component capable of converting an electric signal into light.