Patent ID: 7421160

Claim:
A method of aligning an optical coupling element to a waveguide core, said method comprising the steps of: providing a waveguide assembly, said waveguide assembly comprising a core, a cladding portion, and at least one waveguide core fiducial lithographically formed substantially simultaneously with said core, said core and said at least one waveguide core fiducial being formed in a predetermined relationship with said cladding portion; providing an optical coupling element, said optical coupling element comprising an optical element and at least one alignment feature associated with said optical element, said at least one alignment feature being configured to mate with said at least one waveguide core fiducial and to accurately position said optical element with respect to said core in an X-Y plane; and plugging said at least one waveguide core fiducial and said at least one alignment feature together, whereby said waveguide core and said optical coupling element are accurately positioned in said X-Y plane.