Fiber alignment apparatus and method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a fiber alignment apparatus for the alignment of an array of optical fibers.
The present invention further provides a method of passive mechanical alignment of an array of single mode fibers.
The fiber alignment apparatus may include micro-machined springs that capture and lock arrays of single mode fibers into position.
The springs may be fabricated from electroplated nickel, using photodefined polyimide as a plating mask.
The fibers are typically binary optical ones of the type utilized in packaged photonic devices.
The design of the present invention consists of a movable leaf shaped spring and a fixed pocket for holding a fiber.
The fiber slides between the leaf shaped spring and a fixed guide block.
Together, the leaf shaped spring and the fixed block provide tensioning for a fiber.
When the fiber meets the pocket it is held in place in the pocket by pressure from the leaf spring.
The fibers are pre-positioned in a separate silicon block.
This separate silicon block is laser drilled to accept optical fibers.
The passive mechanical fiber alignment apparatus and method of the present invention utilizes a micro-machined metal spring for capturing a vertical prepositioned fiber, and moving the fiber into accurate alignment, effectively holding it for attachment.
The springs may be fabricated from electroplated nickel, using photodefined polyimide as a plating mask.
The springs are aligned with binary optics on the back side of a substrate.
This entire concept is referred to as "Capture and Locking Alignment Spring Positioner" (hereinafter referred to by the acronym "CLASP").
The springs can be used for general alignment and capture of any fiber utilized in optical input or output devices.