Optical fiber array

Abstract

An optical fiber array in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a faceplate having a plurality of precisely positioned holes extending from front to back surfaces completely through the faceplate. Each hole has an optical fiber inserted therethrough and each fiber includes core, cladding, and coating layers. An end-portion of each of the fibers is stripped of the coating layer, exposing the fibers' cladding layer. The minimum inside diameter of each faceplate hole is greater than the greatest outside diameter of the fibers' cladding layer, permitting each fiber cladding layer to be inserted completely through any of the holes. Optical fibers are inserted into one (rear) faceplate surface and through the holes with a sufficient segment of the stripped fiber end-portion extending beyond the opposite (front) faceplate surface to ensure that, when processing is complete, a complete cross-section of the core layer is exposed at the front face of the faceplate. Once inserted, the fibers are secured in position and the portion of fiber extending beyond the faceplate fronts surface is removed, leaving the fiber endfaces substantially coplanar with the front surface of the faceplate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.