Patent ID: 7539377

Claim:
A method for assembling an optical coupling assembly for optically coupling a first, a second and a third optical fiber using an optical coupler, said first, second, and third optical fibers defining respectively a first, a second and a third fiber free end, said optical coupler including a coupler first end section and a substantially opposed coupler second end section, said coupler first end section defining a first coupling surface, said coupler second end section defining a second coupling surface, said optical coupler defining a coupler passageway extending therealong between said coupler first and second end sections, said method comprising: positioning said first fiber free end substantially adjacent to said first coupling surface; optically coupling said first optical fiber and said first coupling surface to each other; inserting said second optical fiber, at least partially, into said coupler passageway; optically coupling said optical coupler second coupling surface and said second optical fiber to each other into said coupler passageway, positioning said third fiber free end substantially adjacent to said second fiber free end; and optically coupling said second and third fiber free ends to each other; whereby light incoming in said optical coupler through said first coupling surface is guided by said optical coupler to pass through said second coupling surface and into said second optical fiber.