Introduction and Application of Planar Fiber Array

Ⅰ. The fabrication of planar fiber array needs high precision

There are many ways to make fiber array (2D fiber array), and the positioning accuracy of each method is different. If customers use multimode optical fiber and can accept the positioning accuracy of +/- 20 μm, they can use the metal substrate drilling method to achieve. The fiber array made of stack method can achieve almost the same accuracy of fiber to fiber without gap between optical fibers.

In order to achieve higher positioning accuracy, arrays must be fabricated on silicon wafers produced by semiconductor process photolithography or microporous plates machined by precision machining. In this way, positioning accuracy of 0.5 μm-2 μm can be achieved on single-mode fiber.

Ⅱ. Application of planar optical fiber array

The most typical application of 2D fiber array is optical fiber interconnection in the telecommunication industry. Even in harsh conditions, optical switching applications in the telecommunication industry also need to achieve precise positioning between optical fibers to realize fast and low loss transmission of light in the correct optical fiber channel. In order to achieve this requirement, the precise size of 2D fiber array and the precise positioning between fibers can meet the quality control requirements of Telcordia GR-1221-CORE-RELIABILITY, achieve high-precision fiber positioning and extremely low insertion / return loss. In addition, the technology can also achieve the end flatness of ≤ 1 μm and strictly control the fiber bevel in the area of 25mmx25mmd.