Glass fiber hole plates for 2D fiber collimators and methods for alignment and fabrication for optical switching applications
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsJill Berger, Kevin Yasumura, Steven M. Swain
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Abstract
An optical circuit switch including a two-dimensional fiber collimator includes a hole plate to hold and align a plurality of optical fibers. Fiber pathways within the hole plate can be formed using a femtosecond laser irradiation chemical etching (FLICE) technique. The use of the FLICE technique allows for extremely precise channels to be formed which allows for fibers to be aligned more closely with their intended alignment. The technique also allows for the channels or fiber pathways to be formed in a thicker material, which allows for greater structural support and robustness of the fiber collimator in use.
Claims19
A hole plate for use in a fiber collimator comprising:
- a first side;
- a second side opposite the first side;
- one or more alignment locations configured to align the hole plate with the fiber collimator such that the hole plate can be connected to the fiber collimator;
- and
- a plurality of fiber pathways formed within the hole plate and extending from the first side to the second side,
- wherein:
- the hole plate is made from a continuous material,
- each fiber pathway of the plurality of fiber pathways is adapted to receive a single, unaltered optical fiber from a plurality of optical fibers,
- at least one fiber pathway of the plurality of the fiber pathways has a variable cross section, the variable cross section changing along a length of the at least one fiber pathway, and
- a narrowest portion of the at least one fiber pathway is narrower than a diameter of the optical fibers, such that the unaltered optical fiber is prevented from passing through the at least one fiber pathway.
An optical circuit switch (OCS) comprising:
- a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror configured to receive a beam of light;
- and
- a fiber collimator containing a hole plate, the hole plate comprising:
- a first side;
- a second side opposite the first side;
- one or more alignment locations configured to align the hole plate with the fiber collimator such that the hole plate can be connected to the fiber collimator;
- and
- a plurality of fiber pathways formed within the hole plate and extending from the first side to the second side;
- wherein:
- the hole plate is made from a continuous material,
- each fiber pathway of the plurality of fiber pathways is adapted to receive a single, unaltered optical fiber from a plurality of optical fibers,
- each fiber pathway of the plurality of the fiber pathways has a variable cross section, the variable cross section changing along a length of the at least one fiber pathway, and
- a narrowest portion of the at least one fiber pathway is narrower than a diameter of the optical fibers, such that the unaltered optical fiber is prevented from passing through the at least one fiber pathway.
A hole plate for use in a fiber collimator comprising:
- a first side;
- a second side opposite the first side;
- one or more alignment locations configured to align the hole plate with the fiber collimator such that the hole plate can be connected to the fiber collimator;
- and
- a plurality of fiber pathways formed within the hole plate and extending from the first side to the second side,
- wherein:
- the hole plate is made from a continuous material,
- each fiber pathway of the plurality of fiber pathways is adapted to receive a single, unaltered optical fiber from a plurality of optical fibers, and
- side walls of each fiber pathway are substantially perpendicular to the first side and the second side of the hole plate, and have a variable cross-sectional geometry, and
- a narrowest portion of each fiber pathway of the plurality of fiber pathways is narrower than a diameter of the optical fibers, such that the unaltered optical fiber is prevented from passing through the at least one fiber pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.