Fiber Array is the optical device formed by arranging and fixing optical fibers according to a certain spacing, which is the channel for light to enter and exit the optical device. Fiber optic arrays are separated into single fiber arrays (SFA) (although there is only one fiber, it is still called an array) and multi-fiber arrays (MFA).Single-core FA structure is simple, long used to fix the optical fiber is a glass capillary tube, which is pulled out like a fiber. Glue is infiltrated into the capillary, then the clean bare fiber is threaded through it, a slightly softer protective adhesive is dotted on the combination of the bare fiber and the capillary, and finally the end face is polished to a predetermined angle to become a single-core FA.
The most common number of channels for multi-core FA is 2/8/16/32/48/96 channels, and the most common channel pitch is 127um/250um, and we can also customize multi-core FA with other channel numbers and channel pitches according to the chip requirements.
Fiber optic arrays have conventional FA, 45°fiber optic suspension FA, fiber optic turn 90°FA.
Conventional FA: the front surface of the optical fiber and the V groove, cover plate for the same polished plane, the optical fiber straight out without bending
45°fiber overhang FA: The front face of the fiber extends out and is polished to 45°or coupling to the PD after turning the light 90°.
Optical Fiber Turn 90°FA: Optical Fiber: The optical fiber is fixed to the substrate by turning an angle of 90°and is often used for coupling with a grating in a silicon optical chip.
Fiber Array is usually applicable to Planar Optical Waveguide, Array Waveguide Grating, Active/Passive Array Fiber Optic Devices, Microelectromechanical Systems; Multi-channel Optical Modules and so on. Among them, fiber optic arrays are one of the important components of planar light waveguide splitter (PLC Splitter), which can greatly reduce the loss of light waveguide devices and optical coupling alignment.