Optical waveguides – Accessories – External retainer/clamp
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-26
2001-04-17
Bovernick, Rodney (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
External retainer/clamp
C385S065000, C385S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219484
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber array module, and more particularly, to a metal coated optical fiber array module.
2. Description of the Related Art
Roughly three technologies are required to manufacture optical waveguide devices on various planar substrates using planar waveguide technology: waveguide design, waveguide fabrication, and packaging. Here, the packaging technology is the key to obtaining the best optical properties of the optical waveguide device. Particularly in manual devices, the connection between an optical fiber and an optical waveguide is an important factor in producing low-priced optical devices.
As for optical waveguide devices, waveguides can be arrayed at accurate intervals by exposure and etching, but it is very difficult to accurately arrange single-core and multi-core optical fibers when the optical fibers are attached to the waveguides. In general, when the optical fibers are arranged and arrayed, uniform holes for receiving the optical fibers are formed in a silicon substrate or metal substrate, and used to fix the optical fibers.
An accurate process is required to form a device for fixing the optical fibers. Also, when the ends of the optical fibers are polished after the optical fibers are loaded, careful attention is needed because the optical fibers are thin. Furthermore, since the thin optical fibers have a small surface area, they have only a small contact surface when attached to the waveguide device, leading to weak attachment. These problems deteriorate the overall performance of the waveguide device. Also, in a general optical fiber array module, optical fibers and grooves for fixing the optical fibers are damaged during polishing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problem, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an optical fiber array module using metal coated optical fibers, which can improve the attachment strength at a contact surface of the optical fibers by enlarging the cross sections of the arrayed fibers when attached to a waveguide device, prevent the axes of the optical fibers from being tilted due to ultraviolet irradiation upon loading the optical fibers, and increase the total performance of the waveguide device in the respect of packaging the optical waveguide device.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objective, there is provided a metal coated optical fiber array module using a metal coated optical fiber array, comprising: a metal coated optical fiber array; an arranging substrate having arranging grooves for loading the optical fiber array, wherein a metal is coated on the upper surface including the arranging grooves and the optical fiber array loaded into the arranging grooves is united therewith through the medium of the metal; and a cover for protecting and fixing the optical fiber array loaded into the arranging grooves of the arranging substrate.
It is preferable that the metal coated optical fiber array module further comprises a planar substrate having holes into which the optical fiber array is to be inserted, wherein the optical fiber array loaded on the arranging substrate is inserted into the holes and united with the arranging substrate.
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Lee Hyung-jae
Rhee Tae-hyung
You Byong-gwon
Bovernick Rodney
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Kim Ellen E.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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