Patent ID: 6862383

Claim:
An arrayed in-line optical device, comprising: a first optical fiber collimator array, including: a first optical fiber array block configured to receive and retain a first plurality individual optical fibers which carry optical signals, the first optical fiber array block including a first block surface; and a first microlens array substrate coupled to the first optical fiber array block, the first microlens array substrate including a first plurality of microlenses formed on the substrate and integrated along a first microlens surface and a first substrate surface opposite the first microlens surface, wherein the optical signals from the first plurality of individual optical fibers are each collimated by a different one of the first plurality of integrated microlenses; a second optical fiber collimator array, including: a second optical fiber array block configured to receive and retain a second plurality of individual optical fibers which carry the optical signals, the second optical fiber array block including a second block surface; and a second microlens array substrate coupled to the second optical fiber array block, the second microlens array substrate including a second plurality of microlenses formed on the substrate and integrated along a second microlens surface and a second substrate surface opposite the second microlens surface, wherein the optical signals provided to the second plurality of individual optical fibers are each provided by a different one of the second plurality of integrated microlenses; and an optical chip coupled between the first and second microlens surfaces, the optical chip including a first chip surface and a second chip surface, wherein the first block surface is coupled to the first substrate surface and the second block surface is coupled to the second substrate surface by an index-matched optical adhesive, wherein the first and second block surfaces are angled and the first and second substrate surfaces are sloped at an angle in the range of about 4 to 12 degrees from perpendicular to the optical axes of the first and second plurality of individual optical fibers, respectively, wherein the pitch of the first and second plurality of integrated microlenses is within a range of about 125 to 2500 microns, wherein lens axes of the first and second plurality of integrated microlenses are tilted to the optical axis that passes through the first and second plurality of integrated microlenses at an angle in the range of about 0.1 to 5 degrees, and wherein the optical chip is inclined against the optical axis and the first and second chip surfaces are at an angle in the range of about 0.1 to 5 degrees from perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical powers that pass through the optical chip.