The present invention relates to integrated optical devices generally and more particularly to packaging of integrated optical devices

A method for producing an optical device comprising the steps of:

• forming a multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves on at least one first substrate;
• placing each of a multiplicity of optical fibers in each of said multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves on said at least one first substrate;
• retaining each of said multiplicity of optical fibers in each of said multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves on said at least one first substrate, such that said multiplicity of optical fibers lie in an optical fiber plane;
• precisely defining the ends of each of said multiplicity of optical fibers so that they all lie substantially in a first predetermined arrangement;
• fixing a second substrate onto said at least one first substrate such that an edge of said second substrate extends beyond said ends of each of said multiplicity of optical fibers;
• fixing a lens onto a third substrate;
• precisely aligning said third substrate in engagement with said edge of said second substrate such that said lens lies in a second predetermined arrangement with respect to said ends of each of said multiplicity of optical fibers;
• and
• fixing said third substrate in engagement with said edge of said second substrate such that said lens lies in a second predetermined arrangement with respect to said ends of each of said multiplicity of optical fibers,
• whereby the separation between said lens and said ends of each of said multiplicity of optical fibers is defined in a plane perpendicular to said optical fiber plane to a first degree of accuracy and the separation between said lens and said ends of each of said multiplicity of optical fibers is defined in said optical fiber plane to a second degree of accuracy, less than said first degree of accuracy.

An optical device comprising:

• at least one optical substrate having formed thereon at least one waveguide;
• at least one base substrate onto which said at least one optical substrate is fixed;
• and
• at least one optical module, precisely positioned onto each at least one base substrate and fixed thereto by means of side mounting blocks thereby to preserve precise mutual alignment of said at least one module and said at least one waveguide.

An optical device comprising:

• at least one optical substrate having formed thereon at least one waveguide having a center which lies in a waveguide plane;
• a base substrate onto which said at least one optical substrate is fixed and defining at least one optical fiber positioning groove;
• and
• at least one optical fiber fixed in said at least one optical fiber positioning groove on said base substrate, whereby a center of said at least one optical fiber lies in a plane which is substantially coplanar with said waveguide plane.

A method for producing an optical device comprising the steps of:

• forming at least one waveguide onto at least one optical substrate;
• mounting said at least one optical substrate onto at least one base substrate;
• and
• precisely positioning at least one optical module onto said base substrate, including employing side mounting blocks thereby to preserve precise mutual alignment of said at least one module and said at least one waveguide.

A method comprising:

• forming on at least one optical substrate at least one waveguide having a center which lies in a waveguide plane;
• fixing said at least one optical substrate onto a base substrate and defining on said base substrate at least one optical fiber positioning groove;
• and
• fixing at least one optical fiber in said at least one optical fiber positioning groove on said base substrate, whereby a center of said at least one optical fiber lies in a plane which is substantially coplanar with said waveguide plane.

A method for producing an optical device comprising the steps of:

• lithographically forming a multiplicity of waveguides onto an optical substrate;
• mounting said optical substrate onto a base substrate;
• and
• precisely positioning a fiber optic module, having a multiplicity of optical fiber ends and an optical mode modifying lens, onto said base substrate, including:
• using at least one external positioner, manipulating at least one of the fiber optic module and the base substrate relative to the other such that the mode of each optical fiber matches the mode of at least one corresponding waveguide with relatively low light loss;
• and
• fixing the fiber optic module in a desired relative position on said base substrate independently of said external positioner;
• and
• disengaging the at least one external positioner from the modulated light source.