So I'm back in New Mexico working on this interesting stabilized laser for downhole instruments. There isn't room inside the package for a ZIF connector for the laser source, which is a normal telecom DFB laser in a
14-pin butterfly package. (That's my usual approach.)In fact there isn't even room for the leads--they have to be shortened by about 2/3 so as to mount inside a 38-mm diameter housing.
For the prototypes, we're going to use wire and heat shrink to connect to it, but for the longer term that won't be a reliable solution--the leads are too floppy, so they'll eventually crack off under vibration.
Are other folks here using butterfly-packaged lasers? If so, how do you connect to them? I've thought about a little breakout board, or a flex glued to the laser package, but neither is that appealing.
Thanks
Phil Hobbs