Optical fiber positioning apparatus comprising one or more apparatus alignment features

An apparatus for positioning one or more optical fibers relative to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a body comprising a monolithic block of material;
• one or more fiber alignment structures formed in the material of the monolithic block, wherein individual fiber alignment structures of the one or more fiber alignment structures comprise a groove configured to accommodate a corresponding optical fiber;
• one or more apparatus alignment features formed in the material of the monolithic block for passive alignment of the apparatus relative to a component, wherein the one or more apparatus alignment features are additional to the one or more fiber alignment structures,
• wherein the component is separate from the apparatus,
• wherein the component has one or more alignment features that are complementary to the one or more apparatus alignment features,
• wherein the one or more apparatus alignment features have a known spatial relationship relative to the one or more fiber alignment structures,
• wherein individual fiber alignment structures of the one or more fiber alignment structures extend along a path which is at least partially curved
• wherein individual fiber alignment structures of the one or more fiber alignment structures comprise a passage which extends along the at least partially curved path through the body from a corresponding first opening at a first surface of the body to a corresponding second opening at a second surface of the body, wherein the first and second openings are offset relative to one another, wherein the passage has a clear aperture defined as a difference between a diameter of the passage and the offset, and wherein the clear aperture is less than or equal to a minimum diameter of the corresponding optical fiber.

A method for forming an apparatus comprising:

• laser processing a body comprising a monolithic block of material to form one or more fiber alignment structures, wherein individual fiber alignment structures of the one or more fiber alignment structures comprise a groove configured to accommodate a corresponding optical fiber;
• and
• laser processing the body to form one or more apparatus alignment features for passive alignment of the apparatus relative to a component, wherein the one or more apparatus alignment features are additional to the one or more fiber alignment structures,
• wherein the component is separate from the apparatus,
• wherein the component has one or more alignment features that are complementary to the one or more apparatus alignment features,
• wherein the one or more apparatus alignment features have a known spatial relationship relative to the one or more fiber alignment structures.