Patent ID: 7329050

Claim:
An optical connector for a waveguide configured to propagate a single-mode signal, the optical connector comprising: an optical medium having a first face for permanent attachment to the waveguide, a second face for a non-permanent connection, and a bulk region between the first and second faces; and a non-fiber, connector waveguide disposed in the bulk region to propagate the single-mode signal from the first face to the second face, the connector waveguide and the bulk region having a uniform chemical composition; wherein the connector waveguide is optically matched to the waveguide at the first face to receive the single-mode signal carried by the waveguide, wherein the connector waveguide comprises a taper section configured such that the connector waveguide is enlarged at the second face to support an expanded beam of the single-mode signal for propagation through the non-permanent connection, and wherein the taper section comprises a plurality of waveguide segments.