Means of Coupling Light Into Optical Fibers and Methods of Manufacturing a Coupler

An optical coupler, said optical coupler being usable with a first optical fibre and a second optical fibre, said second optical fibre defining a second fibre coupling section and a second fibre transmitting section extending from said second fibre coupling section, said second fibre coupling section defining a radially outwardmost peripheral surface, said radially outwardmost peripheral surface defining a peripheral surface coupling portion, said optical coupler comprising:

• a coupler first end section and a substantially opposed coupler second end section, said coupler first end section defining a first coupling surface;
• said optical coupler defining a second coupling surface extending along said coupler first and second end sections;
• said first coupling surface being optically couplable with said first optical fibre and said second coupling surface being positionable so as to extend substantially parallel to said peripheral surface coupling portion and to be optically coupled with said peripheral surface coupling portion;
• wherein said optical coupler has optical and geometrical properties such that substantially all the light guided to said first coupling surface by said first optical fibre is directed towards said second coupling surface and into said second optical fibre through said peripheral surface coupling portion so as to be guided into said second fibre coupling section for transmission into said second fibre transmitting portion.

A method for assembling an optical coupling assembly for optically coupling a first and a second optical fibre using an optical coupler, said second optical fibre defining a second fibre coupling section and a second fibre transmitting section extending from said second fibre coupling section, said second fibre coupling section defining a radially outwardmost peripheral surface, said radially outwardmost peripheral surface defining a peripheral surface coupling portion, said optical coupler including a coupler first end section and a substantially opposed coupler second end section, said coupler first end section defining a first coupling surface, said optical fibre defining a second coupling surface extending along said coupler first and second end sections, said method comprising:

• positioning said first optical fibre substantially adjacent to said first coupling surface;
• optically coupling said first optical fibre and said first coupling surface to each other;
• positioning said second optical fibre such that said second coupling surface is substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to said peripheral surface coupling portion;
• optically coupling said second coupling surface and said peripheral surface coupling portion to each other.