METHOD OF GRINDING OPTICAL FIBER LENGTHWISE AND GROUND PRODUCT

摘要

The invention relates to the mechanical machining of optical fibres. The process of the invention lies in the application of photolithographic etching methods used for single crystal silicon, with a view to obtaining a support machined with a very high degree of accuracy. To this end, a mask (2) comprises a plurality of channels (1), the edges (10) of which have a concave shape and the width at the centre of which is precisely defined specified well. An anisotropic attack of a substrate, by means of this mask, produces grooves of variable and well-controlled depth making it possible to accommodate therein optical fibres which extend beyond the substrate only in the region of the centre of the groove. A polishing of the assembly makes it possible to abrade a plurality of fibres with a very high degree of accuracy. The invention is applicable in the field of fibre optic telecommunication.