Replicated plastic optical components for optical micro systems

Our approach for passively aligned and low loss coupling of fiber-to-fiber, fiber array-to-array, or lasers/detectors to (single-mode) fibers is schematically shown. A silicon or polymeric platform with built-in alignment features, such as V-groves, alignment posts or rails, is used for the placement of fibers (or fiber ribbons). Replicated plastic optical components such as diffractive optical elements (DOEs) are used for imaging and inserted into the platform. Specific to the solution is the fabrication of the imaging components as replicated plastic elements with built-in mechanical alignment structures to fit into the complementary features of the micro-optical bench.