Patent ID: 6519393
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A slotted optical waveguide device comprising an interior portion and a first plurality of exterior ribbon portions, each ribbon having a central axis therethrough and containing a waveguide along the ribbon axis, the ribbon being adaptable to be connected to a matching second slotted optical waveguide device, each ribbon portion of the first device comprising:a terminal edge; a first pair of opposite external surfaces, substantially parallel to each other, and extending away from the terminal edge; and a waveguide positioned equidistantly between the first pair of the opposite external surfaces; the waveguide having an end point and a center axis, the center axis coinciding with the central axis of the ribbon, the center axis forming a substantially right angle to the terminal edge; the ribbon also having a thickness, and a through-slot extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the waveguide, the through-slot starting at the terminal edge and extending adequately within the ribbon as to meet the end of the waveguide, the through-slot having a width, and a center axis coinciding with the center axis of the waveguide, the through-slot confined by a second pair of opposite side surfaces, substantially parallel to each other and to the center axis of the waveguide, and substantially perpendicular to the first pair of surfaces with the requirement that the width of the through-slot is not excessively smaller than the thickness of the second matching optical waveguide device; and an internal surface meeting with and being substantially perpendicular to the first pair of surfaces and the second pair of surfaces, the internal surface having a center point, the center point coinciding with the end of the waveguide; the terminal edge end of the ribbon being twisted substantially ninety degrees from the interior portion, so that when the through-slot of the optical waveguide device is coupled with a similar slot of the second device, wherein the slots of the second device lie in a common plane (i.e., not twisted), the ends of the respective waveguides come in contact, and the center axes of the waveguides substantially coincide.