FERRULE ASSEMBLY HAVING PROTRUDING OPTICAL FIBER AND ASSOCIATED FABRICATION METHOD

摘要

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ferrule assembly having highly accurately protruding optical fibers and a corresponding method of efficiently, precisely and repeatedly fabricating the ferrule assemblies. Ž<P>SOLUTION: In this regard, a ferrule assembly is provided that includes a plurality of optical fibers extending at least by about 3.5 μm beyond all parts of the front face of the ferrule. The ends of the optical fibers of the ferrule assembly may also be substantially coplanar with the ends of the optical fibers differing in position from one another by no more than 100 nm. The ferrule assembly may be efficiently fabricated by polishing the optical fibers to a desired protrusion without first grinding or by polishing the optical fibers to be flush with the front face of the ferrule. The ferrule assembly may be even more efficiently fabricated in instances in which the ferrule includes at least one polishing feature, such as an outwardly extending pedestal or a recessed portion. Ž<P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT Ž