Optical waveguide devices and methods of fabricating the same

Abstract

A first waveguide holding member has a first transverse surface region and a first optical waveguide having an end terminating at the first transverse surface region. A second waveguide holding member has a second transverse surface region which confronts the first transverse surface region of the first waveguide holding member and a second optical waveguide having an end terminating at the second transverse surface region. A guide member is operatively coupled to the first and second waveguide holding members and guides the first waveguide holding member in a transverse direction relative to the second waveguide holding member so as to selectively optically couple and decouple the ends of the first and second optical waveguides.

1 . A method of fabricating an optical device, comprising: 
 placing an optical fiber lengthwise in a groove formed in a surface of a waveguide holding member, wherein a diameter of the optical fiber relative to a cross-sectional dimension of the groove is such that the optical fiber protrudes above the surface of the waveguide holding member along a length of the groove;    pressing a non-stick surface of a lid member against the optical fiber placed in the groove of the waveguide holding member and applying an adhesive to the optical fiber and the groove;    curing the adhesive while the non-stick surface of the lid member is pressed against the optical fiber placed in the groove of the waveguide holding member; and    removing the non-stick surface of the lid member from the optical fiber.    
   
   
       2 . A method of fabricating a variable optical attenuator, comprising: 
 placing a first optical waveguide in a first waveguide holding member such that an end of the first optical waveguide terminates at a first transverse surface region of the first waveguide holding member;    placing a plurality of pedestals of a tool into a respective plurality of grooves of a second waveguide holding member at a second transverse surface region of the second waveguide holding member;    aligning ends of a plurality of second optical waveguides against respective ends of the plurality of pedestals within the plurality of grooves of the second waveguide holding member;    extracting the pedestals of the tool from the respective plurality of grooves of the second waveguide holding member; and    operatively connecting the first and second waveguide holding members with a guide mechanism such that the first transverse surface region of the first waveguide holding member confronts the second transverse surface region of the second waveguide holding member, and such that the first waveguide holding member is movable in a transverse direction relative to the second waveguide holding member.    
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the pedestals of the tool have respectively different heights such that the ends of the plurality of the second optical waveguides are displaced at respectively different distances from the second transverse surface region of the second waveguide holding member.