Abstract: Technologies for fiber array unit (FAU) lid designs are disclosed. In one embodiment, channels in the lid allow for suction to be applied to fibers that the lid covers, pulling the fibers into place in a V-groove. The suction can hold the fibers in place as the fiber array unit is mated with a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) die. Additionally or alternatively, channels can be on pitch, allowing for pulling the FAU towards a PIC die as well as sensing the position and alignment of the FAU to the PIC die. In another embodiment, a warpage amount of a PIC die is characterized, and a FAU lid with a similar warpage is fabricated, allowing for the FAU to position fibers correctly relative to waveguides in the PIC die. In another embodiment, a FAU has an extended lid, which can provide fiber protection as well as position and parallelism tolerance control.

Abstract: Technologies for expanded beam optical connectors are disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, a lens array attached to a substrate includes several lenses aligned to optical fibers positioned in grooves in the substrate. The lens array also includes optical fiducials, such as opaque optical fiducials. Auxiliary optical fibers are aligned to the optical fiducials. Light can be sent through the auxiliary optical fibers and onto the optical fiducials, and a pattern of light can be detected after the optical fiducials. The pattern of light can be used to determine a position and/or orientation error of the lens array. The error can be used as feedback in several possible ways, such as repositioning the lens array, positioning a guide pin to match the position and direction of beams through the lenses, or adjusting a parameter of a manufacturing process.