High density fiber terminator/connector

Abstract

A high density fiber terminator/connector and methods of making the high density fiber terminator/connector are provided. One method comprises using deep reactive ion etching to etch a plurality of holes in a silicon substrate and placing a fiber in at least one hole.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An optical fiber assembly comprising a substrate with at least one hole and one alignment groove formed in the substrate, the hole configured to receive a tip of a fiber and alignment groove configured to align an object in place.  
     
     
         2 . The optical fiber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object is an alignment pin  
     
     
         3 . The optical fiber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a lens array  
     
     
         4 . The optical fiber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a diffraction grating  
     
     
         5 . The optical fiber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a microelectronic mechanical system  
     
     
         6 . The optical fiber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a second optical fiber assembly  
     
     
         7 . The optical fiber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment groove has a depth of less than about one-fourth of a total thickness of the substrate.  
     
     
         8 . The optical fiber assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment groove is etched through an entire thickness of the substrate.  
     
     
         9 . An optical fiber assembly comprising a substrate with at least one hole and a plurality of flaps in the substrate around a hole, the hole configured to receive a tip of a fiber and the flaps configured to align the fiber in the hole.  
     
     
         10 . A method of making an optical fiber assembly, the method comprising: 
 using deep reactive ion etching to etch at least one hole in a silicon substrate, wherein the hole is sized to fit an optical fiber;    etching an alignment groove in said silicon substrate that is aligned with said hole; and    placing an optical fiber in the hole.