Patent ID: 7223025

Claim:
An optical apparatus, comprising: an optical device assembly, comprising a device substrate with at least one optical component thereon and with a fiber groove thereon; a segment of optical fiber engaged with the fiber groove, the fiber groove positioning a first end of the fiber segment engaged therewith for optical coupling with at least one optical component on the substrate; a fiber retainer positioned over the fiber segment so as to maintain the fiber segment in engagement with the fiber groove, the fiber retainer including a second fiber groove thereon, the first end of the fiber segment being engaged with the second fiber groove; adhesive means for securing the fiber retainer to the device substrate; and a resilient material in the second fiber groove between the fiber segment and the fiber retainer, wherein: the device substrate or the fiber retainer is provided with at least one recessed region formed thereon, and the adhesive means at least partially fills the recessed region and forms a retaining member therein; and the resilient material is sufficiently resilient so as to accommodate: (i) differing thermal expansions of the adhesive means and the fiber segment so as to substantially prevent disengagement of the fiber segment from the fiber groove over an operating temperature range between about −40° C. and about 95° C.; or (ii) strain induced by shrinkage of the adhesive means.