In optical module manufacturing, the alignment and coupling between the optical chip and the fiber (or fiber array, FA) is the core process that determines optical performance, insertion loss and mass-production yield. The quality of optical device coupling directly affects signal transmission quality, return loss and long-term reliability of the product. Traditional manual coupling relies on operator experience and hand-feel, and generally suffers from low alignment accuracy, poor batch consistency, low production efficiency and long training cycles, making it difficult to meet the mass-production requirements of 400G, 800G and even 1.6T high-speed optical modules.
A fully automatic optical module coupler is designed to solve these problems. Through the coordination of a high-precision motion platform and a high-performance vision inspection system, it automatically completes six-dimensional precision alignment and coupling of optical chips and fiber arrays, achieving nanometer-level alignment accuracy. It greatly improves coupling efficiency and product consistency while reducing reliance on manual experience, making it essential core equipment for high-volume production of high-speed optical modules.
XINGTE's Dual-Lens automatic coupler (Model GMD-100) is an integrated automatic coupling production platform built for high-volume manufacturing of 400G/800G/1.6T high-speed optical modules, CPO, silicon photonics and high-speed optical engines. Equipped with a ±50nm nanometer-level high-precision motion platform, a high-performance vision inspection system and a self-developed intelligent optimization coupling algorithm, it can complete device end-face quality inspection during the loading stage and automatically execute the full process of optical path peak finding, precise alignment, dispensing and curing, fully replacing manual coupling and eliminating human operational deviation.
In terms of mass-production stability, the GMD-100 achieves a stable overall coupling yield of >97% and an equipment utilization rate of >93%, supporting long, uninterrupted production for optical module factories. It features freely editable coupling process logic and a customized software interface, offering short debug and onboarding cycles. It meets both R&D prototyping and small-batch trial production needs as well as large-scale standardized mass production, achieving unified optical path performance and controllable return loss across batches.
In terms of process compatibility, the GMD-100 platform supports both Dual-Lens and Dual-FA mainstream coupling processes simultaneously, both of which have achieved mature mass-production implementation, adapting to the industry's current parallel development of multiple technical routes. Its application scope is wide: packaging forms cover COB, BOX, optical engines, CPO and silicon photonic devices; speed specifications support the full 400G/800G/1.6T range of high-speed optical modules; device types include single-mode and multi-mode optical devices, as well as lenses, FA, MUX, DMUX and other optical communication packaging components.
Furthermore, the GMD-100 excels on the software side. It provides freely editable coupling process logic and a customized software interface, so engineers can adjust coupling flows and parameters according to product structures without deep programming skills. Complete after-sales and process support services help companies quickly complete equipment onboarding and operator training, shortening the time from equipment arrival to stable mass production.
In short, the fully automatic optical module coupler is a key step for optical module companies to move from manual processes to fully automatic, high-precision, high-volume manufacturing. Choosing equipment with nanometer-level precision, dual-process compatibility, fully closed-loop process control and a flexible modular architecture, such as XINGTE's GMD-100, enables manufacturers to benefit simultaneously in yield, capacity and cost, providing a solid equipment foundation for the vigorous development of the high-speed optical communication industry.
