Abstract: An optical assembly comprising: (a) a crystalline substrate having a top planar surface and a crystalline plane angle; (b) at least one groove defined in the top planar surface and having side walls extending from an edge of the substrate to a terminal end, the groove having a first facet at the terminal, the first facet having a first angle relative to the top planar surface, the first facet being reflective; (c) an optical conduit having an optical axis and an end face optically coupled with the first facet; (d) a waveguide; and (e) a diffractive optical element (DOE) disposed above the first facet and configured to couple light between the waveguide and the optical conduit as reflected by the first facet.

Abstract: An interposer, comprising: (a) a planar substrate having top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface defining at least one ferrule alignment structure, and fiber bores, each bore hole being in a certain position relative to the ferrule alignment structure and adapted to receive a fiber; (b) at least one ferrule having an end face and comprising one or more fibers protruding from the end face, and at least one alignment feature cooperating with the ferrule alignment structure to position the ferrule precisely on the bottom surface such that the fibers are disposed in the fiber bores and protrude past the top surface; and (c) at least one optical component having one or more optical interfaces and being mounted on the top surface such that each of the optical interfaces is aligned with one of the fiber bores and is optically coupled with a fiber protruding from the fiber bores.

Abstract: A method of forming a coupler, the method comprising: (a) heating a portion of an optical fiber having multiple cores and an initial diameter; and (b) applying a tensile force across the portion such that the portion stretches, thereby reducing the initial diameter to a reduced diameter sufficient to cause optical signals propagating in one or more of the multiple cores to leave their respective cores and enter other cores of the fiber.

Abstract: A method of terminating a fiber in a connector using a device comprising: (a) positioning a stripped fiber on the device such that the bare fiber portion extends into a first fiber channel of a cleaver; (b) securing the fiber to a fiber retainer slidably attached to the substrate to move along an x axis at a first position; (c) cleaving the bare fiber portion to form a cleaved end; (d) sliding the fiber retainer away from the cleaver along the x axis; (e) causing to be presented a second fiber channel of a connector held in a connector retainer along the x axis; (f) sliding the fiber retainer to the first position along the x axis, thereby causing the cleaved end to extend into the second fiber channel; and (g) actuating the connector while the fiber retainer is at the first position.

Abstract: An optical interposer comprising a transparent substrate having first and second sides, at least one OED mounted to the first side, at least one reflective surface and at least one groove defined on the second side, and an optical conduit disposed in the groove optically coupled to the OED by the reflective surface

Abstract: An interposer comprising a plurality of optical conduits, each having an optical axis, a substrate defining a plurality of grooves having a terminal end, each optical conduit being disposed in a single groove, and a common angled surface traversing two or more of the grooves at the terminal end, at least a portion of the angled surface proximate the optical axes of the optical conduits in the two or more grooves is reflective, and one or more optical components disposed above the angled surface, the optical components and the optical conduits being optically coupled by the angled surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high speed flex circuit electronic interface in combination with a sealed optical connectorization approach for optical coupling. In a preferred embodiment, at a front end of the connector a wedge seal ring or “press ring” is pressed into the end of a slide tube, both of which are, in a preferred embodiment, made of metal such as stainless steel. The wedge end shape of the press ring in this preferred embodiment allows it to be easily pushed into the inside diameter of the slide tube, expanding the slide tube to create a radial surface seal maintained by the hoop stress developed in the slide tube initiated by the press ring, thereby creating a hermetic seal on a cylindrical portion of the flange assembly connector. A flex-circuit sealed back-end of the connector uses, in a preferred embodiment, polymer to polymer or polymer to metal bonding to create a hermetic seal on the back end.

Abstract: An optical interposer comprising: (a) a substrate having a planar surface: (b) at least one groove defined in the planar surface and extending from an edge of the substrate to a terminal end, the groove having side walls and a first facet at the terminal end perpendicular to side walls, the facet having a first angle relative to the planar surface, the first angle being about 45 degrees; and (c) a reflective coating on the first facet.

Abstract: An optical interposer comprising: (a) a substrate having a planar surface: (b) at least one groove defined in the planar surface and extending from an edge of the substrate to a terminal end, the groove having side walls and a first facet at the terminal end perpendicular to side walls, the facet having a first angle relative to the planar surface, the first angle being about 45 degrees; (c) a reflective coating on the first facet, and (d) a optical conduit disposed in the groove for optically coupling the first facet with a waveguide.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the end faces of polymer optical waveguides are coated with a film that is harder than the waveguides themselves, but still sufficiently compliant to fill in scratches, gouges and other non-planarities in the end faces of the waveguides. Even further, using a single continuous sheet of the film to protect the end faces of a plurality of polymer waveguides in a connector also helps make the effective mating surfaces of all of the waveguides coplanar (i.e., longitudinally coextensive). Furthermore, if the film becomes scratched, it can be stripped off and replaced without the need to replace the waveguides or the entire connector.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a housing having a front mating face and receptacles configured to receive plugs therein through the front mating face, where the plugs have connectivity pins attached thereto. The receptacle module includes connectivity sensor areas associated with the receptacles, where each connectivity sensor area is positioned adjacent the corresponding receptacle. Each connectivity sensor area has a first connectivity sensor and a second connectivity sensor that is electrically isolated from the first connectivity sensor when the plug is disconnected from the receptacle. Both the first and second connectivity sensors are configured to be engaged by different connectivity pins of the plug when the plug is received in the corresponding receptacle to form a sense circuit.

Abstract: A plug assembly includes a body extending between a mating end and a cable end. A sensor assembly is supported by the body that has an integrated circuit component having a first pad and a second pad. The sensor assembly also has a first sensor probe mounted to the first pad and a second sensor probe mounted to the second pad.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a housing having a front mating face and receptacles configured to receive plugs therein through the front mating face, where the plugs have connectivity pins attached thereto. The receptacle module includes connectivity sensor areas associated with the receptacles, where each connectivity sensor area is positioned adjacent the corresponding receptacle. Each connectivity sensor area has a first connectivity sensor and a second connectivity sensor that is electrically isolated from the first connectivity sensor when the plug is disconnected from the receptacle. Both the first and second connectivity sensors are configured to be engaged by different connectivity pins of the plug when the plug is received in the corresponding receptacle to form a sense circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for fabricating a mechanical or visual alignment fiducial on a laser die particularly adapted for application with a laser die that is a buried structure edge emitting laser. In fabricating the device, the fiducial and the active mesa are formed in the same photolithography patterning step, using conventional techniques. The active is then buried with regrowth layers. The regrowth layers are subsequently selectively etched to expose the fiducial, leaving the active region protected and buried.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for fabricating a mechanical or visual alignment fiducial on a laser die particularly adapted for application with a laser die that is a buried structure edge emitting laser. In fabricating the device, the fiducial and the active mesa are formed in the same photolithography patterning step, using conventional techniques. The active is then buried with regrowth layers. The regrowth layers are subsequently selectively etched to expose the fiducial, leaving the active region protected and buried.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for fabricating a mechanical or visual alignment fiducial on a laser die particularly adapted for application with a laser die that is a buried structure edge emitting laser. In fabricating the device, the fiducial and the active mesa are formed in the same photolithography patterning step, using conventional techniques. The active is then buried with regrowth layers. The regrowth layers are subsequently selectively etched to expose the fiducial, leaving the active region protected and buried.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for fabricating a mechanical or visual alignment fiducial on a laser die particularly adapted for application with a laser die that is a buried structure edge emitting laser. In fabricating the device, the fiducial and the active mesa are formed in the same photolithography patterning step, using conventional techniques. The active is then buried with regrowth layers. The regrowth layers are subsequently selectively etched to expose the fiducial, leaving the active region protected and buried.

Abstract: An optical bidirectional link comprising: a module having a lower surface and an upper surface. The upper surface having disposed thereon a submodule having an optical transmitter and detector mounted thereon. Circuitry mounted on the upper surface. The circuitry having electronic components for effecting bidirectional communication via the optical transmitter and detector. A cover disposed over the upper surface of the module, wherein the submodule further comprises a silicon substrate having an optical fiber disposed in v-groove, a laser, reflective surfaces, and a holographic plate disposed on an upper surface of the silicon substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling an optical fiber to an optical device comprises a substrate and a passive alignment member. The substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface having a fist groove disposed thereon for holding an optical fiber, and a second groove disposed on the top surface. The second groove being substantially orthogonal to the first groove. The passive alignment member disposed in the second groove. The passive alignment member having selectively etched forward and side pedestals for aligning the optical device to the optical fiber disposed in the first groove.

Abstract: A passive alignment structure for a substantially planar substrate, which is an anodic aluminum oxide structure having a vertical profile with respect to a horizontal surface of said substantially planar substrate.