Fiber optic array and method of making same
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJohn Border, Susan H. Bernegger, John C. Pulver, Morgan A. Smith
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Abstract
A fiber optic array and method of making same has precision fiducial marks that aid in the alignment of the fiber optic array. The invention requires forming additional optical features adjacent to the fiber optic array that is used to write fiducial marks on an opposite surface in the medium containing the fiber optic array. Fiducial marks are formed when a high intensity collimated beam of light is directed through the optical features onto a treated portion of the transparent medium. Fiducial accuracies of 1 micron are possible by using this approach.
Claims30
A fiber optic array, comprising:
- a plurality of fiber optic articles supportedly arranged on a first surface of a transparent medium, said transparent medium having a second surface opposite said first surface;
- at least two optical features arranged on said first surface of said transparent medium adjacent to said plurality of fiber optic articles;
- and, a fiducial mark precisely corresponding to each one of said at least two optical features formed on said second surface of said transparent medium.
Method of manufacturing a fiber optic array having a plurality of fiber optic articles, comprising the steps of:
- providing a medium having a plurality of openings, each one of said plurality of openings passing at least partially through a first surface of said medium, said medium having a second surface opposite said first surface, and said plurality of openings being configured to support one fiber optic article in said plurality of fiber optic articles;
- arranging each one of said plurality of fiber optic articles into one of said plurality of openings;
- forming at least two optical features on said first surface of said medium adjacent said fiber optic array;
- altering at least a portion of said second surface of said medium;
- and,
- directing a collimated beam of light through said at least two optical features and onto said at least a portion of said second surface, said at least two optical features focusing said collimated beam of light onto said at least a portion of said second surface to form a precisely located at least two fiducial marks thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.