Precision fiber optic alignment and attachment apparatus
AssigneeJDS Uniphase Corporation
InventorKenzo Ishida
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A groove assembly for holding at least one fiber optic. The assembly includes a base, a cover and a small carrier disposed between the base and the cover. The carrier has at least one groove. At least one fiber optic is disposed in this groove and terminates at an edge surface of the carrier. The base and cover have respective edge surfaces serving as attachment surfaces for attachment of the assembly to a planar lightwave circuit (PLC). The PLC has at least one waveguide terminating at an edge, to which the fiber requires alignment. The base and/or cover are preferably formed from a material enabling attachment to the PLC, e.g., transparent to energy used for curing an adhesive. The carrier is formed from material enabling a substantially more precise formation of the grooves, e.g., silicon.
Claims39
An assembly for coupling at least one fiber optic to an optical device, comprising:
- a base;
- a cover;
- a carrier disposed between the base and the cover, having at least one groove formed therein;
- at least one fiber optic disposed in a respective groove of the at least one groove, and therefore between the carrier and the base or cover, and terminating at an edge surface of the carrier;
- and
- a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) having at least one waveguide running to an edge thereof;
- wherein mating surfaces of the PLC are attached to edge surfaces of the base and cover above and below the carrier, such that the at least one fiber optic is aligned to the at least one waveguide.
A method for fabricating an assembly for coupling at least one fiber optic to an optical device, comprising:
- providing a base and a cover;
- disposing a carrier between the base and the cover, the carrier having at least one groove formed therein;
- disposing at least one fiber optic in a respective groove of the at least one groove, and therefore between the carrier and the base or cover, and terminating at an edge surface of the carrier;
- and
- attaching mating surfaces of a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) to edge surfaces of the base and the cover above and below the carrier, wherein the PLC has at least one waveguide running to the edge thereof that is aligned with one fiber optic.
A method for holding at least one fiber optic, for attachment to a device having at least one waveguide terminating at an edge thereof, and to which the at least one fiber is to be aligned, comprising:
- using a groove assembly, including a base and a cover, and a carrier between the base and the cover, the carrier having at least one groove formed therein;
- disposing at least one fiber optic in a respective groove of the at least one groove, and therefore between the carrier and the base or cover, and terminating at an edge surface of the carrier;
- aligning a fiber optic in the groove assembly to a waveguide in said device;
- and
- attaching the device and the assembly via edge surfaces of the base and the cover, and respective mating surfaces of the PLC above and below the carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.