Apparatus and Method for Terminating an Array of Optical Fibers

Abstract

A method for terminating a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement comprises inserting the plurality of optical fibers into and through a fiber ferrule, where the fiber ferrule has a plurality of parallel channels extending from an entry surface through to a polish surface; polishing the polish surface including an end of each of the plurality of optical fibers to form a coplanar surface at a polish angle relative to a reference plane perpendicular to the parallel channels; and affixing a glass plate to the polish surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A termination assembly comprising:
 a fiber ferrule having a plurality of channels extending from an entry surface through to a polishing surface, wherein the channels are arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement;   a plurality of optical fibers, each of the plurality of fibers extending through the fiber ferrule, each of the plurality of fibers parallel to one another, each of the plurality of fibers having an end coplanar with the polishing surface of the fiber array and coplanar with an end of each other of the plurality of fibers;   a glass plate; and   an affixing agent disposed between and affixing the fiber ferrule to the glass plate.   
     
     
         2 . The termination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the polishing surface of the fiber ferrule is at a polishing angle relative to a reference plane perpendicular to the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The termination assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the polishing angle is greater than 0 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The termination assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the glass plate has a mating surface and an emergent surface, wherein the mating surface is affixed to the polishing surface. 
     
     
         5 . The termination assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the glass plate is a wedge plate, and wherein the emergent surface of the wedge plate has a wedge angle relative to the mating surface. 
     
     
         6 . The termination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the glass plate is a wedge plate, and wherein the wedge plate is formed from silica glass, and wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from silica glass. 
     
     
         7 . The termination assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the polishing angle is 8 degrees, and the wedge angle is approximately 15 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The termination assembly of  claim 5 , wherein an apparent fiber emitting plane is tilted relative to the reference plane for optimal lens imaging. 
     
     
         9 . The termination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the glass plate is a plane window, wherein the plane window is formed from silica glass, and wherein the plurality of fibers are formed from silica glass. 
     
     
         10 . The termination assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising an anti-reflective coating applied to an emergent surface of the plane window. 
     
     
         11 . The termination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a refractive index of the affixing agent is approximately the same as that of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The termination assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a refractive index of the glass plate is approximately the same as that of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The termination assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the affixing agent is sufficient to cause destructive interference between a first Fresnel reflection off a first surface of the affixing agent and a second Fresnel reflection off a second surface of the affixing agent. 
     
     
         14 . The termination of assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the affixing agent is ultra-violet epoxy. 
     
     
         15 . A method for terminating a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a two-dimensional arrangement, the method comprising:
 inserting the plurality of optical fibers into and through a fiber ferrule, the fiber ferrule having a plurality of parallel channels extending from an entry surface through to a polish surface;   polishing the polish surface including an end of each of the plurality of optical fibers to form a coplanar surface at a polish angle relative to a reference plane perpendicular to the parallel channels; and   affixing a glass plate to the polish surface.