Abstract: Fiber optic devices are tested using an optical switching assembly having two optical switches and optical junctions, each optical junction connects an optical fiber from each of the switches to an external optical fiber lead. Each switch is connected to an optical device, for example a laser or a detector, and selectively establishes an optical path between the corresponding optical device and one of the junctions. Hence, a fiber optic device may be tested by connecting the ends of the fiber optic device to respective junction leads, and selectively switching the optical paths to determine the different optical characteristics of the fiber optic device. Calibration devices may also be connected to the leads of unused junctions to check for calibration accuracy and to detect variation in optical performance over time.

Abstract: An arrangement (apparatus and method) for hermetically sealing a fiber optic device. The fiber optic device includes a device body such as an optical coupler or a multiplexer coupled to exposed regions of optical fibers. The fiber optic device is hermetically sealed by forming metal seals such as pure aluminum blocks on exposed regions of the optical fibers. The blocks are formed by injecting molten aluminum into molds, during which the molten aluminum bonds to the optical fiber chemically and forms a compression seal on the optical fibers during cooling. The metal seals are then used to define a boundary for substrate bodies used to enclose the fiber optic device, where a hermetic seal is formed between the metal seals and the substrates by compressing the substrates onto the metal seals. Hence, a hermetic seal may be easily implemented on an existing fiber optic device without the necessity of adhesives.