Patent ID: 7802928

Claim:
A method for constructing a fiber optic system having an optical fiber defined by a central portion, a first end portion with a first end, and a second end portion with a second end, the method comprising: forming a crystalline substrate support structure operable to support the first end portion of the optical fiber and the second end portion of the optical fiber; forming a first V-groove in the support structure along an axis, the first V-groove extending over the surface of the crystalline substrate support structure and extending from a first edge of the crystalline substrate support structure toward an opposing second edge of the crystalline substrate support structure; forming a second V-groove in the support structure along the axis, the V-groove extending over the surface of the crystalline substrate support structure and extending from the second edge toward the first edge; forming a central groove in the support structure along the axis, the central groove extending between the first V-groove and the second V-groove; physically coupling the first end portion of the optical fiber to the first V-groove so that the first end of the optical fiber is directed towards the central groove and is aligned along the axis; physically coupling the second end portion of the optical fiber to the second V-groove so that the second end of the optical fiber is directed towards the central groove, is aligned along the axis, and is facing the first end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is continuous between the first end portion, the central portion, and the second end portion; positioning a first transmissive mirror along the axis between the first end portion of the optical fiber and the second end portion of the optical fiber; and positioning a second transmissive mirror along the axis between the first transmissive mirror and the second end portion of the optical fiber.