Abstract: In order accurately to align an array of optical fibres (10) with optical components such as waveguides (14) in a block of insulative material (12) on a substrate (2) both in the plane of the substrate and in a height dimension normal to the substrate, the fibres are fixed in accurately formed V-grooves (8), and the block (12) has an array of accurately formed solder pads (16) in one to one correspondence with an array of solder pads (4) on the surface of the substrate (2) the array of solder pads (4, 16) being secured to one another by solder drops (6) containing controlled amounts of solder and thus being precisely dimensioned. The fibres (10) may be secured in V-grooves (8) with solder. Some of the solder pads (4) may be formed as conductive tracks electrically interconnecting with electrical components formed in block (12) and integrated circuits formed in substrate (2).

Abstract: An optical connecting arrangement is provided between an optical device and an optical fibre in which the optical device is mounted with positional precision on a substrate which is fabricated for locating one end of a so-called grin rod lens in precise optical alignment with the active surface of the optical device and in which the other end of the same grin rod lens or the corresponding end of a further grin rod lens coupled to it has the optical fibre optically coupled thereto in optical alignment.