Optical connector adapter for connecting optical pump sources to optical waveguides and method of forming same

An optical connector adapter comprising:

• a substrate having at least one groove formed within the top reference surface for receiving at least one optical fiber, the at least one optical fiber for transporting optical signals, said substrate having opposing ends, and a top reference surface and a side reference surface aligned relative to said at least one optical fiber;
• a respective carrier bracket received over each end of said substrate;
• respective substrate alignment fiducials for aligning said carrier brackets relative to said substrate;
• a substrate carrier that receives said substrate and carrier brackets;
• respective carrier alignment fiducials for aligning said substrate carrier and said carrier brackets;
• an optical coupler received on said substrate carrier;
• and
• at least one coupler alignment fiducial for aligning said optical coupler relative to said substrate so that said optical coupler is aligned relative to said at least one optical fiber.

A method of forming an optical connector adapter comprising:

• forming a substrate comprising at least one optical waveguide for transporting optical signals, the substrate having opposing ends, and a top reference surface and a side reference surface aligned relative to the at least one optical waveguide;
• positioning a respective carrier bracket over each end of the substrate and aligning the carrier brackets relative to the substrate using respective substrate alignment fiducials;
• inserting the substrate having the carrier brackets thereon into a substrate carrier, and aligning the substrate carrier and the carrier brackets using respective carrier alignment fiducials;
• and
• positioning an optical coupler on the substrate carrier and aligning the optical coupler relative to the substrate using at least one coupler alignment fiducial so that the optical coupler is aligned relative to the at least one optical waveguide.