Claims
- 1-20. (Canceled).
- 21. A fiber array comprising:
a plurality of optical fibers; a first silicon substrate comprising a first plurality of fiber passageways extending therethrough from a first surface of the substrate; a second silicon substrate comprising a second plurality of fiber passageways extending therethrough, wherein each of the optical fibers is disposed in a respective the passageway of the first and second substrates; and a bonding agent to secure the fibers and substrates in fixed relation to one another; wherein the fibers are oriented at a selected, non-perpendicular angle relative to the first surface of the substrate.
- 22. The fiber array according to claim 21, wherein each of the passageways of the first substrate comprises a cylindrical sidewall.
- 23. The fiber array according to claim 21, wherein the range of angles extends up to 12 degrees.
- 24. The fiber array according to claim 21, wherein the range of angles extends from 4 degrees to 8 degrees.
- 25. The fiber array according to claim 21, further comprising a third silicon substrate comprising a third plurality of fiber passageways extending therethrough, wherein each of the optical fibers is disposed in a respective the passageway of the third substrate.
- 26. The fiber array according to claim 21, wherein the first and second substrates are in facing contact.
- 27. The fiber array according to claim 21, wherein the passageways of the first substrate have a cross-sectional dimension that increases along a portion of the length of the passageway.
- 28. The fiber array according to claim 21, wherein the portions of the fibers disposed in the first substrate comprise un-buffered, un-jacketed fiber segments.
- 29. The fiber array according to claim 21, comprising a housing having a registration feature for registering the first substrate relative to the second substrate to position the fibers at the selected angle.
- 30. The fiber array according to claim 21, wherein the first and second substrates are positionable relative to one another so that the first and second plurality of passageways provide sufficient clearance to permit the fibers disposed therein to be positioned at a range of angles within the passageways.
- 31. A method for fabricating a fiber optic array, comprising:
providing a first substrate comprising a first plurality of fiber passageways extending therethrough from a first surface of the substrate; providing a second substrate comprising a second plurality of fiber passageways extending therethrough; positioning the second substrate relative to the first substrate so that each passageway of the first substrate is registered to a respective passageway of the second substrate; placing an optical fiber in each of the registered passageways, wherein the passageways are dimensioned to permit the optical fibers disposed therein to be positioned at a range of angles relative to the first surface of the substrate; moving the second substrate relative to the first substrate so as to orient the fibers at a selected non-orthogonal angle relative to the first surface of the substrate; and securing the fibers and the substrates to one another with a bonding agent, whereby a fiber array is provided in which the fibers are oriented at the selected, non-orthogonal angle relative to the first surface of the first substrate.
- 32. The method according to claim 31 wherein applying a bonding agent comprises applying a sufficient quantity of bonding agent to substantially fill voids around the fibers within the passageways.
- 33. The method according to claim 31 wherein placing an optical fiber in each of the registered passageways comprises placing an endface of the fiber adjacent an output face of the array.
- 34. The method according to claim 31 comprising polishing the endfaces of each of the fibers to be parallel to the output face of the array.
Parent Case Info
[0001] Applicants claim the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 60/325,043, filed on Sep. 26, 2001, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US02/30476 |
9/26/2002 |
WO |
|
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60325043 |
Sep 2001 |
US |