Fiber optic device with multiple independent connecting regions and method for making same

A fiber optic device, comprising:

• a substrate with at least two optically isolated grooves, each groove for receiving at least two fiber optic cables, wherein each groove includes a connection region for receiving an optical fiber associated with each fiber optic cable associated with the groove;
• at least one electronic component disposed in each groove of the substrate;
• a plurality of fiber optic cables, including at least two cables associated with each groove, each cable having a connection end and a lead end, each cable having a fiber jacket removed from the connection end of the cable to expose an optical fiber within the cable, wherein the optical fibers at the connection ends of the cables associated with each groove are disposed in the connection region of the associated groove, wherein the connection ends of the optical fibers of the cables in the associated groove are connected to predetermined points on the electronic component(s) disposed in the associated groove;
• and
• an enclosure for packaging the substrate with electronic components with the lead ends of the fiber optic cables extending through openings of the enclosure.

A method for assembling a fiber optic coupler assembly, comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving at least two fiber optic cables in a first optically isolated groove of a substrate, each cable having a fiber jacket of the cable removed from a middle portion of the cable to expose an optical fiber within the cable;
• b) connecting the exposed optical fibers of each cable together in a connecting region of the first groove to form a first fiber optic coupling with at least four coupled fiber optic cables extending therefrom, each coupled fiber optic cable having a connection end joined in the first coupling and a lead end extending outward from the first groove;
• c) selecting at least one of the coupled fiber optic cables from the first coupling and severing the selected coupled fiber optic cable(s) from the first coupling;
• d) receiving at least two fiber optic cables in a second optically isolated groove of the substrate, each cable having a fiber jacket of the cable removed from a middle portion of the cable to expose an optical fiber within the cable;
• e) connecting the exposed optical fibers of each cable together in a connecting region of the second groove to form a second fiber optic coupling with at least four coupled fiber optic cables extending therefrom, each coupled fiber optic cable having a connection end joined in the second coupling and a lead end extending outward from the second groove;
• and
• f) selecting at least one of the coupled fiber optic cables from the second coupling and severing the selected coupled fiber optic cable(s) from the second coupling.

A method for assembling a fiber optic device, comprising the steps of

• a) receiving at least two fiber optic cables in a first optically isolated groove of a substrate, each cable having a connection end and a lead end, each cable having a fiber jacket removed from the connection end of the cable to expose an optical fiber within the cable, wherein at least one electronic component is disposed in the first groove;
• b) connecting the exposed optical fibers from the connection end of each cable to predetermined points on the electronic component(s) in a connecting region of the first groove;
• c) receiving at least two fiber optic cables in a second optically isolated groove of the substrate, each cable having a connection end and a lead end, each cable having a fiber jacket removed from the connection end of the cable to expose an optical fiber within the cable, wherein at least one electronic component is disposed in the second groove;
• and
• d) connecting the exposed optical fibers from the connection end of each cable to predetermined points on the electronic component(s) in a connecting region of the second groove.