Abstract: A method for manufacturing an array of optical fiber ferrules includes producing on a first side of a wafer a pattern of an array of disks or holes (111, 112) in a metallic coating (121, 122). The metallic coating is covered with a negative photoresist layer. A second side of the wafer opposite to the first side is illuminated with light that propagates as a divergent or collimated beam through the photoresist layer, thereby creating a conical pattern within the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer is developed to create conical apertures. A sheet with a conical openings pattern registered to the conical apertures is attached so that a small diameter of each conical opening of the sheet is smaller than, and in contact with, a large diameter of the conical aperture to which it is registered, thereby forming an array of optical fiber ferrules.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusion welding one or several parallel optical fibers (102) to the same number of waveguides (101) includes a fiber guiding device and a highly reflective surface (104) located below the fiber for each fiber-waveguide pair, and a laser beam (103) whose wavelength is chosen such that its light is strongly absorbed by the fiber material and its shape is properly adjusted.