2-1.Fiber arrays

Fiber arrays are components that connect optical waveguides and optical fibers. Conventionally, the most common type of fiber array is the V-groove type, as shown in Fig. 11. V-grooves are prepared by machining or wet etching on a glass plate that is several millimeters in thickness having a precision of ±1 μm. The optical fibers are arrayed along the grooves and fixed by an adhesive agent. The end surface is optically polished. Figure 12 shows an example of the fiber array.

There are various types of optical waveguides such as planar lightwave circuits, silicon photonic waveguides and lithium niobate waveguides. Regardless of types, channel numbers and pattern complexity of the waveguides, each waveguide must be connected to external components and devices via optical fibers.

Waveguides are prepared via techniques such as semiconductor lithography, and hence, the waveguide dimensions are controlled at submicron precision regardless of the number of waveguides (e.g., 8, 32 or 48). Therefore, the optical fibers to be attached to the waveguides also need to be arrayed at submicron precision. Fiber arrays used for such purposes are shown in Fig. 13.

Current representative optical waveguides used in conjunction with fiber arrays are 1×8 splitters for fibers to the home (FTTH) (Fig. 14) and arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) for dense wavelength divisions and multiplexing (DWDM).

2-2.Issues of V-groove fiber arrays

V-groove fiber arrays are widely used for optical communication and datacenter wiring applications. However, there remains numerous issues that require circumventing for present fiber arrays, including:

1. Limited possibility for miniaturization

2. Difficulty of 2-dimensional (2D) use

3. Difficulty in arraying fibers that can maintain polarization

Currently, further miniaturization, integration, and energy savings are recognized as the biggest challenges in the improvement of optical communication equipment. These challenges also apply to fiber arrays used for optical communication equipment, and furthermore, the demand for miniaturization is increasing.

For V-groove fiber arrays, the V-grooves, covers, and optical fibers are fixed by an adhesive agent. Accordingly, miniaturization of the fiber arrays reduces the adhesive area and increases the chance of cover peel off. This uncovering subsequently leads to an immediate risk of communication disconnection and is unacceptable in terms of reliability. Furthermore, miniaturization requires increased levels of complexity for assembly, which further poses challenges in terms of cost.

Spatial optical coupling has often been employed in recent years as a wavelength selective switch and multicast switch. This technique, in some cases, requires 2D fiber arrays. Lamination of V-groove fiber arrays is not practical as improvements to the precision in the laminating direction are not obtained.

Recently, the need for fiber arrays that maintain polarization has also increased. For V-groove arrays, each polarization-maintaining fiber must be held and fixed at three points, namely, both sides of the V-groove and a lid contact point. This requirement applies uneven stresses to the fiber, which will impair the extinction ratio.