COMPONENTE OPTO ELETTRONICO UTILIZZABILE COME INTERFACCIA TRA UNA FIBRA OTTICA ED UN COLLEGAMENTO ELETTRICO PER LA TRASMISSIONE DI SEGNALI

The opto-electronic component provides an interface between an optical fibre and an electrical communications link. An opto-electronic diode pellet (2) mounted on the end of a cylindrical electrode (1). The diode is a photo-diode or a light- emitting diode depending on the direction of transmission. The face of the pellet on the electrode is conductive and constitutes a first electrical connection thereto. On its other face, the diode has a photoactive region (7) looking into an optical fibre (3). A tubular positioning member (not shown in Fig. 1) ensures that the diode and the optical fibre are held in proper relationship with each other. Surrounding the photoactive region there is a contact zone (8) for a second electrical contact to the diode. This zone is connected to a second electrode which is tubular, and which is coaxial with the first. Depending on the embodiment, the second electrode may either surround the first electrode, or alternatively it may surround a length of the optical fibre.