Hermetic optical fiber alignment assembly having integrated optical element

Abstract

A hermetic optical fiber alignment assembly includes a ferrule portion having a plurality of grooves receiving the end sections of optical fibers, wherein the grooves define the location and orientation of the end sections with respect to the ferrule portion. The assembly includes an integrated optical element for coupling the input/output of an optical fiber to the opto-electronic devices in the opto-electronic module. The optical element can be in the form of a structured reflective surface. The end of the optical fiber is at a defined distance to and aligned with the structured reflective surface. The structured reflective surfaces and the fiber alignment grooves can be formed by stamping.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hermetic optical fiber alignment assembly, comprising:
 a first ferrule portion having a first surface defining at least a groove receiving at least an end section of an optical fiber, wherein groove defines the location and orientation of the end section with respect to the first ferrule portion;   a second ferrule portion having a second surface facing the first surface of the first ferrule, wherein the first ferrule portion is hermetically attached to the second ferrule portion with the first surface against the second surface,   wherein the first ferrule includes an extended portion beyond an edge of the second ferrule portion, on which the groove extends and terminates at an optical element located beyond the edge of the second ferrule portion, wherein an end face of the optical fiber is located at a predetermined distance from the optical element along the axis of the optical fiber, and wherein the groove accurately aligns the optical fiber with respect to the optical element, so that output light from the optical fiber can be directed by the optical element to outside the ferrule or input light from outside the ferrule incident at the optical element can be directed towards the optical fiber.