Fiber, lens and sensor arrays and their precision alignment for optical devices
with free space light propagation is disclosed Fabrication methods of arrays and
their assembly are also proposed. In one implementation, a device includes a fiber
alignment module holding fibers in parallel to form a fiber array. The fiber alignment
module includes first and second alignment plates, and a spacer plate engaged between
the first and the second alignment plates. Each alignment plate includes an array
of through holes to respectively hold the fibers. A lens array can be engaged to
the fiber alignment module to align lenses to their corresponding fibers. Passive
alignment features may be formed at interfacing surfaces of different layers to
assist the alignment. Applications of these integrated fiber, lens and sensor arrays
to optical cross connect switches and reconfigurable add drop multiplexers are
also disclosed.