Patent ID: 7195401

Claim:
An optical fiber access unit having a base plate, a cover plate and an optical fiber optically connected to a transmitter/receiver chip, said chip being connected to an electronic circuit for signal processing and said circuit being connected to a coupling port for distributing signals to and from said circuit, the optical fiber access unit comprising a fiber ferrule module adapted for fiber connection and transmitter/receiver chip connection, wherein the fiber ferrule module comprises the optical fiber, a casing comprising a solid material surrounding the optical fiber, wherein the casing includes a flange formed around the casing for enhancing automatic installation of the fiber ferrule module into the optical fiber access unit; and a first access end and a second access end to the optical fiber, the first access end adapted for transmitter/receiver chip connection and the second access end adapted for fiber connection; a transmitter/receiver chip module arranged for connection to the first access end of the fiber ferrule module; a support unit arranged for receiving the fiber ferrule module, the transmitter/receiver chip module and the electronic circuit; a fiber access port provided at the second access end of the fiber ferrule module comprising end faces of the casing in line with the first access end and second access end of the optical fiber; the first access end and the second access end of the optical fiber being planar and substantially perpendicular to the length of the fiber; and a cavity formed in each of the base plate and the cover plate that, when assembled, produces a new cavity equal in shape and dimension to the shape and dimension of the fiber ferrule module, the cavity arranged for receiving a completed fiber ferrule module and for aligning the fiber ferrule module and the transmitter/receiver chip.