Apparatuses and methods for aligning an optical fiber array with an

Abstract

This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for aligning optical fibers housed in an optical fiber array with optical waveguides coupled to an optical integrated circuit (OIC) housed in an OIC assembly of a related invention. An apparatus of this invention includes a first micropositoner in which the optical fiber array is mounted, and a second micropositioner in which the OIC assembly is mounted. An adhesive is applied to one or both opposing ends of the optical fiber array and the OIC assembly, and the first and second micropositioners are manipulated to move the optical fiber array end in close proximity to the OIC assembly end so that the adhesive contacts the ends of the optical fiber array and the OIC assembly to form an optical fiber/adhesive/optical waveguide interface. One optical fiber, preferably toward one side of the optical fiber array, is selected and light from a light source, preferably a laser, is generated and supplied to the selected optical fiber. The optical fiber is aligned by manipulating one or both of the first and second micropositioners until the selected optical fiber is aligned with a respective optical waveguide. The alignment of the optical fiber with its respective optical waveguide is accomplished by monitoring the light scattered from the optical fiber/adhesive/optical waveguide interface using a light detector coupled to a lock-in amplifier. The lock-in amplifier receives a signal from the light source indicative of the modulation frequency of the light source, and detects only light of the same modulation frequency scattered from the interface.