Patent ID: 6157759
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical fiber passive alignment method for passively aligning an optical fiber with an optical waveguide of an integrated optical device comprising:(a) forming an optical waveguide as a layer in a longitudinal direction of a planar substrate;(b) forming an optical fiber mounting portion on the planar substrate onto which an optical fiber is to be mounted to couple the optical fiber to the optical waveguide;(c) mounting the optical fiber in the optical fiber mounting portion near the optical waveguide, and fixing the optical fiber to the substrate;(d) simultaneously cutting the optical fiber mounted on the optical fiber mounting portion near the optical waveguide and the optical waveguide, such that cross-sections of the optical fiber and the optical waveguide are simultaneously ground, thereby forming a cavity between the optical fiber mounting portion and the optical waveguide;(e) injecting a material having a refractive index that increases upon irradiation with UV rays, into the cavity; and(f) coupling the optical fiber to the optical waveguide by irradiating the material filling the groove with UV rays supplied through one of the optical fiber and the optical waveguide.