Optical fiber passive alignment apparatus and method therefor

Abstract

An optical fiber passive alignment apparatus for passively aligning an optical fiber with an input/output optical waveguide of an integrated optical device, and a method therefor. The optical fiber passive alignment apparatus includes: an optical waveguide formed on a planar substrate along the longitudinal direction of the planar substrate, having a core which is shorter than the planar substrate; an optical fiber mounting portion formed to a predetermined length on the planar substrate in the longitudinal direction of the planar substrate, such that the optical waveguide and the optical fiber contact each other, for receiving the optical fiber; and a cavity located between the optical fiber mounting portion and a core of the optical waveguide, filled with a material whose refractive index slightly increases on irradiation by UV rays such that the refractive index of the material is not substantially different from the refractive index of a core of the optical fiber. Therefore, forming the optical waveguide whose core flares gradually reduces dependency of coupling loss on horizontal displacement, and importance of precisely positioning the optical fiber is decreased.