Patent ID: 7257295

Claim:
An optical coupler comprising: an element having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, a second end, and a length between the first and second ends, the element further having a body of core material disposed between the top and bottom surfaces and extending along the length, the element further having a first layer of cladding material disposed between the body of core material and the top surface, the body of core material constructed to convey light in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the element; a first attachment region located at the bottom surface of the element, the first attachment region having a length that runs parallel to the length of the element, wherein the length of the first attachment region is at least 1 mm; a first film of adhesive material disposed on the first attachment region, the first film having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, the top surface of the first film abutting the bottom surface of the element at the first attachment region; and a distance from the body of the core material to a point on the bottom surface of the first film, the distance being not more than 100 μm when the body of core material is configured to convey multi-mode light and not more than 20 μm when the body of core material is configured to convey only single-mode light.