Patent ID: 6522817
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
Optical fiber array apparatus comprising:a relatively thick primary substrate having sufficient structure to support an array of N spaced-apart optical fibers and having first and second opposing surfaces and defining a plurality of N primary substrate apertures which each extend therethrough from the first surface to the second surface with a cross-section of each of the N substrate apertures being greater than a cross-section of an optical fiber such that one optical fiber can be passed through in each of the N primary substrate apertures, each optical fiber comprising a cladding layer surrounding an optical core; and a relatively thin first layer, which has insufficient structure by itself to support an array of N spaced-apart optical fibers, engaging the second surface of the primary substrate and defining N apertures therethrough with centers of the first layer apertures being aligned to a preselected tolerance value which is that required for the array of optical fibers, the smallest cross-section of each of the first layer apertures being less than the smallest cross-section of each primary substrate apertures, each first layer aperture being within a footprint of one of the primary substrate apertures such that optical fibers inserted through the primary substrate apertures enter the first layer apertures, and the cross-sections of the first layer apertures having limited variations that result in spacings between adjacent optical fibers placed in the primary substrate apertures and entering the first layer apertures being within the preselected tolerance value such that optical fibers are aligned within the preselected tolerance value.