GB2178184A - Positioning an optical fibre in a groove using a vacuum - Google Patents
Positioning an optical fibre in a groove using a vacuum Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2178184A GB2178184A GB08517447A GB8517447A GB2178184A GB 2178184 A GB2178184 A GB 2178184A GB 08517447 A GB08517447 A GB 08517447A GB 8517447 A GB8517447 A GB 8517447A GB 2178184 A GB2178184 A GB 2178184A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- groove
- optical fibre
- substrate
- access
- crystallographic
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 36
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 42
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 18
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910000679 solder Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 150000004767 nitrides Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000012670 alkaline solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000206 photolithography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/30—Optical coupling means for use between fibre and thin-film device
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
- G02B6/3838—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using grooves for light guides
- G02B6/3839—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using grooves for light guides for a plurality of light guides
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3855—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
- Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
A method of positioning an optical fibre (9) in a groove (3) formed in a surface (5) of a crystallographic substrate (1). An access (7) is formed in the surface (5) or another surface of the crystallographic substrate (1), which access (7) communicates with a part of the groove (3) between the optical fibre (9) when introduced into the groove (3) and the substrate (1) so as to enable a vacuum to be applied between the optical fibre (9) and the crystallographic substrate (1). The optical fibre (9) is introduced into the groove (3) and a vaccumn applied causing the optical fibre (9) to become positioned in the groove (3).
Description
SPECIFICATION
Methods of positioning an optical fibre
This invention relates to methods of positioning an optical fibre, and in particular, to positioning an optical fibre in a substrate so that the optical fibre can subsequently be aligned and connected to an integrated optical device.
A previously proposed method of aligning an optical fibre with an input or output optical wave guide of an integrated optical device includes a step of locating an optical fibre in a groove in a substrate. The optical fibre is held and manipulated into the groove by means of a precision mechanical chuck which references the optical fibre against the polished surfaces of a V groove. This method of locating the optical fibre is disadvantageous in that very careful jigging of the mechanical chuck is necessary to ensure that the optical fibre is properly positioned in the groove so that it is correctly aligned with the optical wave guide of the integrated optic device to which it is to be connected.
Further, the mechanical chuck is bulky, intricate to make and cannot position several optical fibres which together make up a fibre array.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a method of positioning an optical fibre in a substrate to an improved degree of accuracy without the need for such complicated mechanical chucks.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of positioning an optical fibre in a groove in a surface of a crystallographic substrate, the method comprising forming an access in the surface or another surface of the crystallographic substrate, which access communicates with a part of the groove between the optical fibre when introduced into the groove and the substrate so as to enable a vacuum to be applied between the optical fibre and the crystallographic substrate, introducing the optical fibre into the groove, and applying the vacuum between the optical fibre and the crystallographic substrate thereby causing the optical fibre to become positioned in the groove.
The access is preferably formed in the surface of the crystallographic substrate which is opposite to the surface in which the groove is formed.
The groove is preferably of V shaped cross section.
The crystallographic substrate is preferably of silicon.
The optical fibre in the crystallographic substrate may subsequently be aligned and connected to an optical wave guide of an integrated optical device.
The optical fibre may subsequently be secured in position by means of adhesive, solder or by anodic bonding.
The groove and the access may be formed by etching using, for example, photo-lithographic techniques.
The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a crystallographic substrate having two grooves formed therein;
Figure 2 shows an access formed through the crystallographic substrate; and
Figure 3 shows a view of the crystallographic substrate with two optical fibres positioned thereon.
Fig. 1 shows a crystallographic substrate 1, which may be of silicon, having a pair of V shaped grooves 3 formed in a surface 5 thereof. The grooves 3 may be formed in the substrate 1 by a method known as preferential etching. In the case where the substrate 1 is formed from silicon, an aqueous alkaline solution can be used to cause silicon to etch more rapidly in a direction normal to 100 planes than in that normal to 111 planes.
Thus, etching a groove in a 100 silicon surface results in a V shaped groove having sides which are parallel to the 111 planes.
The grooves 3 may be formed in the surface 5 of the substrate 1 through an oxide or nitride mask (not shown) by means of photolithography.
In the region of each of the grooves 3 where the sides of the groove meet, there is formed an access 7 which communicates with the underside of the substrate 1.
Fig. 2 shows a view of the underside of the substrate 1 and illustrates the access 7 between the groove 3 and the underside of the substrate 1. The access 7 may be formed by photo-lithographic techniques in which an oxide or nitride mask (not shown) is formed on the reverse side of the substrate. The access 7 is then etched until the access 7 reaches the grooves 3. The etch time and conditions of etching are chosen so that the correct proportion of the groove 3 sides remain unetched. An advantage of this technique is that a plurality of similar substrates each having a pair of grooves 3 and an access 7 can be fabricated simultaneously on a silicon wafer.
Final separation of each of the etched substrates can be achieved by defining a border on both sides of the silicon wafer on which the substrates are fabricated and allowing the etch to remove the silicon which separates adjoining substrates.
Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a view of the substrate 1 having a pair of optical fibres 9 located thereon. After the grooves 3 and the access 7 have been formed in the substrate 1, one optical fibre 9 may be introduced into each of the grooves 3. The vacuum is then applied between the optical fibres 9 and the crystallographic substrate 1 via the access 7. The vacuum causes the opti cal fibres 9 to become properly seated in their respective groove 3 and this results in a pressure drop in the vacuum line which can be detected. It is possible to detect when the optical fibres 9 are properly positioned in their respective grooves 3 by monitoring the pressure in the access 7.
Embodiments on the present invention are further advantageous in that because the optical fibres 9 are individually constrained by means of the vacuum, it is relatively easy to align the ends of the optical fibre to an integrated optic device to which the optical fibres 9 are to be connected.
Once the optical fibres 9 have been positioned within the respective grooves 3, the optical fibres 9 can be secured by means of adhesive, solder or by anodic bonding.
Claims (8)
1. A method of positioning an optical fibre in a groove in a surface of a crystallographic substrate, the method comprising forming an access in the surface or another surface of the crystallographic substrate, which access communicates with a part of the groove between the optical fibre when introduced into the groove and the substrate so as to enable a vacuum to be applied between the optical fibre and the crystallographic substrate, introducing the optical fibre into the groove, and applying the vacuum between the optical fibre and the crystallographic substrate thereby causing the optical fibre to become positioned in the groove.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the access is formed in the surface of the crystallographic substrate which is opposite to the surface in which the groove is formed.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the groove is preferably of V shaped cross-section.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the crystallographic substrate comprises silicon.
5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the optical fibre when in the crystallographic substrate is aligned and connected to an optical wave guide of an integrated optical device.
6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the optical fibre is secured in position by means of adhesive, solder or by anodic bonding.
7. A method as claimed in any one fo claims 1 to 6 wherein the groove and the access are formed by etching using photolithograhpic techniques.
8. A method of positioning an optical fibre in a groove in a surface of a crystallographic substrate, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8517447A GB2178184B (en) | 1985-07-10 | 1985-07-10 | Method of positioning a number of optical fibres in a number of grooves |
| PCT/GB1986/000397 WO1987000298A1 (en) | 1985-07-10 | 1986-07-10 | Methods of positioning an optical fibre |
| EP19860904282 EP0229143A1 (en) | 1985-07-10 | 1986-07-10 | Methods of positioning an optical fibre |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8517447A GB2178184B (en) | 1985-07-10 | 1985-07-10 | Method of positioning a number of optical fibres in a number of grooves |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8517447D0 GB8517447D0 (en) | 1985-08-14 |
| GB2178184A true GB2178184A (en) | 1987-02-04 |
| GB2178184B GB2178184B (en) | 1989-07-19 |
Family
ID=10582081
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8517447A Expired GB2178184B (en) | 1985-07-10 | 1985-07-10 | Method of positioning a number of optical fibres in a number of grooves |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0229143A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2178184B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1987000298A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2225441A (en) * | 1988-11-24 | 1990-05-30 | Stc Plc | Aligning optical fibres |
| WO2002021174A1 (en) * | 2000-09-08 | 2002-03-14 | Corning Incorporated | Tool and method for positioning optical arrays |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5017885A (en) * | 1984-05-10 | 1991-05-21 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Optical amplifier with reduced nonlinearity |
| CA1319593C (en) * | 1987-03-03 | 1993-06-29 | Kenji Chichibu | Method of assaying high molecular hyaluronic acid and kit of reagents for such assay |
| US5178723A (en) * | 1991-11-04 | 1993-01-12 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Method and apparatus for making optical devices |
| DE4428808C2 (en) * | 1994-08-13 | 2003-07-17 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Method for producing a component according to the anodic bonding method and component |
| FR2748574B1 (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 1998-05-29 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR POSITIONING AND HOLDING OPTICAL FIBERS |
| WO2014190343A1 (en) * | 2013-05-24 | 2014-11-27 | University Of Houston | Integrated thin-film optrode |
| WO2025034956A2 (en) * | 2023-08-09 | 2025-02-13 | Ram Photonics Industrial, Llc | Systems and methods for a vacuum gripper assembly |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1449156A (en) * | 1972-09-08 | 1976-09-15 | Bell Northern Research Ltd | Coupling of 0tical fibres |
| GB2039378A (en) * | 1979-01-03 | 1980-08-06 | Lyonnaise Transmission | Device for welding several optical fibres end to end in layers and a method of welding by means of the device |
| EP0018768A1 (en) * | 1979-05-01 | 1980-11-12 | BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company | Apparatus of joining together optical fibres |
| US4436295A (en) * | 1981-06-12 | 1984-03-13 | Augat Inc. | Vacuum chuck for holding filaments |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4466696A (en) * | 1982-03-29 | 1984-08-21 | Honeywell Inc. | Self-aligned coupling of optical fiber to semiconductor laser or LED |
-
1985
- 1985-07-10 GB GB8517447A patent/GB2178184B/en not_active Expired
-
1986
- 1986-07-10 WO PCT/GB1986/000397 patent/WO1987000298A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1986-07-10 EP EP19860904282 patent/EP0229143A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1449156A (en) * | 1972-09-08 | 1976-09-15 | Bell Northern Research Ltd | Coupling of 0tical fibres |
| GB2039378A (en) * | 1979-01-03 | 1980-08-06 | Lyonnaise Transmission | Device for welding several optical fibres end to end in layers and a method of welding by means of the device |
| EP0018768A1 (en) * | 1979-05-01 | 1980-11-12 | BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company | Apparatus of joining together optical fibres |
| US4436295A (en) * | 1981-06-12 | 1984-03-13 | Augat Inc. | Vacuum chuck for holding filaments |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2225441A (en) * | 1988-11-24 | 1990-05-30 | Stc Plc | Aligning optical fibres |
| GB2225441B (en) * | 1988-11-24 | 1992-10-28 | Stc Plc | Terminating optical fibres |
| WO2002021174A1 (en) * | 2000-09-08 | 2002-03-14 | Corning Incorporated | Tool and method for positioning optical arrays |
| US6574412B2 (en) | 2000-09-08 | 2003-06-03 | Corning Incorporated | Method for positioning optical fibers |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1987000298A1 (en) | 1987-01-15 |
| GB2178184B (en) | 1989-07-19 |
| EP0229143A1 (en) | 1987-07-22 |
| GB8517447D0 (en) | 1985-08-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732 | Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19950710 |