Method of and a device for coupling optical fibers and opto-electronic components

A method of coupling an electro-optic component to an optical fiber comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming at least one groove in a support adapted to tightly receive an optical fiber at least over an entire length of an end thereof so that said groove has an open side at a substantially flat face of said support;
• (b) producing a terminal end reflecting surface on said length of optical fiber which is inclined to a main path of propagation along a longitudinal axis of said fiber and capable of reflecting optical radiation arriving along said path into a direction along a transverse axis transverse to said path or optical radiation arriving along said transverse axis into said path;
• (c) fitting said length of said optical fiber tightly and completely into said groove so that said surface directs optical radiation through said open side or receives optical radiation from said open side;
• (d) bonding a laminar cover transparent to said optical radiation to said face so as to lie across said open side of said groove and along a flank of said optical fiber;
• and
• (e) bonding said optical component directly to said laminar cover in alignment with said transverse axis whereby optical radiation along said transverse axis passes through said laminar cover.

A method of coupling an electro-optic component to an optical fiber comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming at least one groove in a one-piece laminar support adapted to tightly receive an optical fiber at least over an entire length of a region thereof so that said groove has an open side at a substantially flat face of said support;
• (b) producing a totally reflecting terminal end surface on said optical fiber which is inclined to a main path of propagation along a longitudinal axis of said fiber and capable of reflecting optical radiation arriving along said path into a direction along a transverse axis transverse to said path or optical radiation arriving along said transverse axis into said path;
• (c) fitting said length of said optical fiber tightly and completely into said groove so that said surface directs optical radiation through said open side or receives optical radiation from said open side;
• (d) bonding a laminar cover transparent to said optical radiation to said face so as to lie across said open side of said groove and along a flank of said optical fiber;
• and
• (e) bonding said optical component directly to said laminar cover in alignment with said transverse axis whereby optical radiation along said transverse axis passes through said laminar cover.

A method of coupling an electro-optic component to an optical fiber comprising the steps of:

• (a) forming at least one groove in a support adapted to tightly receive an optical fiber at least over an entire length of a region thereof so that said groove has an open side at a substantially flat face of said support;
• (b) producing a reflecting surface on said optical fiber which is inclined to a main path of propagation along a longitudinal axis of said fiber and capable of reflecting optical radiation arriving along said path into a direction along a transverse axis transverse to said path or optical radiation arriving along said transverse axis into said path;
• (c) fitting said length of said optical fiber tightly and completely into said groove so that said surface directs optical radiation through said open side or receives optical radiation from said open side;
• (d) bonding a laminar cover transparent to said optical radiation to said face so as to lie across said open side of said groove and along a flank of said optical fiber;
• (e) bonding said optical component directly to said laminar cover in alignment with said transverse axis whereby optical radiation along said transverse axis passes through said laminar cover;
• and
• (f) mounting ancillary circuit elements for said optical component on said cover to integrate said circuit elements with said optical component on said support and cover.

An electro-optical device comprising:

• a support of a silicon based material formed with a flat face and at least one groove received in said support and having an open side at said flat face;
• an optical fiber having a reflecting surface at a terminal end thereof inclined to a longitudinal axis of said fiber and capable of totally reflecting optical radiation arriving along said optical fiber into a direction along a traverse axis substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis or optical radiation arriving along said traverse axis into a path along said longitudinal axis, said fiber being fitted tightly and entirely in said groove over a portion provided with said end so that optical radiation along said traverse axis passes through said open side;
• a laminar cover transparent to said optical radiation bonded to said face so as to lie across said open side of said groove and along a flank of said optical fiber whereby optical radiation along said traverse axis passes through said laminar cover;
• and
• an electro-optical component bonded directly to said lamina cover in alignment with said transverse axis.