Precision fibre alignment arrays boost optical performance

This is particularly important given the demand for increasing levels of high density optical fibre in a wide variety of applications, including multi-fibre connectors, arrays for interfacing to optical switching hardware such as reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers (ROADMs), and interfacing to other free-space optical systems.

Optoscribe’s high speed laser-based manufacturing process provides full 3D flexibility in the patterning of holes and can create high precision, highly controllable microstructures in glass.In addition, the 3D control provides the ability to shape the hole entrance creating a funnel or conical taper to allow for easy insertion of the fibres.

Holes can also be formed at arbitrary angles to the surface of the glass such as the 8 degrees typically used for minimising back-reflections.

Nick Psaila, CEO of Optoscribe, said: “With the data communications market demanding ever increased bandwidth there is a greater need for dense fibre optical connections. Many of these high-density connections require the use of precise, tightly-toleranced fibre alignment structures to position the optical ports accurately, therefore I am delighted to introduce our new range of OptoArray solutions to help solve some of these challenges.”