Abstract: The invention relates to a hermetic optical fiber feedthrough or connector, and a method of hermetically sealing an optical fiber at low temperature. The method involves stripping a portion of the buffer layer of an optical fiber. The stripped portion of the fiber is inserted into a ferrule having a high coefficient of thermal expansion closely matching that of a low melt temperature solder. The ferrule is heated to melt the solder, the stripped portion of the fiber is then directly soldered into the ferrule. Upon cooling the solder and ferrule cool and shrink relatively uniformly thereby forming a compressive hermetic solder joint surrounding the stripped fiber. An epoxy may be inserted into an aperture formed in the ferrule. The epoxy forms a seal around the hermetic solder joint and bonds with the stripped fiber to improve the tolerance of the hermetic seal to mechanical deformation and increases the pull strength of the seal. Advantageously, the optical properties are not altered by the process.

Abstract: An optical fiber having a core, a cladding layer, a buffer layer, and a midsection for forming a hermetic seal to the fiber. First and second sections of a length of the optical fiber are separated by the midsection that includes a jacket hermetically sealed to the fiber, the jacket having a hermetically sealable outer surface. First and second stress relief joints are formed between the jacket and the buffer layers of the first and second sections of the length of the fiber. A method is disclosed for fabricating the optical fiber having a hermetically sealable section.

Abstract: A method of attaching an optical fiber to an IOC includes the step of preparing the IOC for attachment by utilizing a dicing saw to cut into the IOC at a depth less than the thickness of the IOC, the cut forming a surface which is normal or at an angle with respect to an optical axis of the waveguide, such step of cutting having the additional result of optically polishing the surface. A portion of the IOC between the initial cut and an end of the IOC is then progressively removed by a series of cuts using the dicing saw, the cuts are to a predetermined depth which is less than the thickness of the IOC, and greater than the radius of the fiber so as to insure proper coupling of the IOC waveguide and fiber core, such series of cuts producing a stepped surface in the IOC. Next, the fiber core is optically aligned with the waveguide by translational and rotational positioning of the fiber end face adjacent to the surface and above the stepped surface.

Abstract: A method of attaching an optical fiber to an IOC includes the step of forming an alignment groove in the waveguide surface of the IOC by utilizing a laser ablation system to remove a predetermined portion of the IOC material. Next, a dicing saw or other cutting means is used to cut into the IOC at a depth less than the thickness of the IOC, the cut forming a cut surface which is normal or at an angle with respect to both an optical axis of the waveguide and to an axis of the alignment groove, such step of cutting performing the additional function of optically polishing the cut surface. Next, an optical fiber is disposed within the alignment groove, and the fiber core is optically aligned with the optical axis of the waveguide by translational and rotational positioning of the fiber end face adjacent to the cut surface.