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Device and method for optical fibre and optical waveguide self-aligning

An optical waveguide and self-alignment technology, applied in the field of optical fiber devices, can solve the problems of expensive and time-consuming

Inactive Publication Date: 2004-05-12
IBM CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The equipment to perform this five-fold alignment is expensive and requires highly skilled personnel performing the alignment
Quintuplet alignment is also time consuming
Both add to the cost of the finished product
Additionally, it is extremely difficult or impossible to attach multiple optical fibers at close spacing to a single optical waveguide using this technique

Method used

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  • Device and method for optical fibre and optical waveguide self-aligning
  • Device and method for optical fibre and optical waveguide self-aligning
  • Device and method for optical fibre and optical waveguide self-aligning

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Embodiment Construction

[0018] Unless otherwise stated, the processes and fabrication methods referred to and referenced herein are those used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips. The term optical waveguide is intended to include not only several discrete optical waveguides, but also optical devices having an optical or optoelectronic device part and an optical waveguide part, wherein both the optical waveguide part and the device part are fabricated in or on the same substrate and interconnected. The optical waveguide to optical fiber self-alignment connection system of the present invention requires the fabrication of an integrally formed optical waveguide chip and the fabrication of an alignment jig for aligning the optical waveguide chip with the optical fiber. The manufacture of the optical waveguide chip is first discussed below.

[0019] Figure 1-8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing fabrication of the optical waveguide chip according to the present invention. exist figure 1 I...

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PUM

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Abstract

An apparatus for self-aligning an optical fiber to an optical waveguide. The apparatus includes an optical waveguide chip including: one or more optical waveguides formed on a first substrate, each optical waveguide having a protruding portion; and one or more alignment rails formed on the first substrate, each alignment rail spaced apart from each optical waveguide by a predetermined distance; and an alignment jig including: one or more grooves formed in a second substrate, each groove adapted to receive one protruding portion and each groove supporting one optical fiber in alignment with one optical waveguide; and one or more alignment grooves formed on the second substrate, each alignment groove spaced apart from the grooves by the predetermined distance and adapted to mate with the alignment rails.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of coupling optical fibers to optical waveguides; more particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for fabricating optical fibers that self-align with optical waveguide assemblies. Background technique [0002] There are many applications in optical communications and optoelectronics where optical fibers must be connected to optical waveguides. The connection of the optical fiber to the optical waveguide requires that one end face of the optical fiber is aligned with the end face of an optical waveguide, and then the two end faces are spliced ​​together. Alignment tolerances of the fiber to the optical waveguide must remain below 1 micron in the five degrees of freedom (X, Y and Z axes perpendicular to each other and axes of rotation about the X and Y axes). The equipment to perform this quintuplex alignment is expensive and requires highly skilled personnel performing the alignment. ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G02B6/30
CPCG02B6/30
Inventor R·耶尔曼D·V·霍拉克关口章久
Owner IBM CORP