Importance

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Abstract

A fiber optic connector and an associated fabrication method includes a connector housing in which a substrate and at least one microactuator mounted on the substrate are disposed. The microactuator is adapted for movement relative to the substrate such that an optical fiber bonded to the microactuator can be controllably positioned with respect to an aperture defined in the front plate of the connector housing. One or more lens elements, such as graded index lens elements, can be at least partially disposed within respective ones of the apertures defined by the connector housing so as to collimate the optical signals transmitted via the respective optical fibers. The microactuator can include at least one bimorphic actuator having first and second layers formed of first and second materials, respectively, which respond differently to electrical stimuli. Accordingly, the bimorphic actuator can be deflected by electrical stimuli so as to be urged against a portion of the substrate to thereby controllably position the carrier relative to the substrate. As a result, the optical fiber can also be controllably positioned relative to a respective lens element. Thus, the optical signals transmitted by the aligned optical fibers can be effectively collimated by the lens elements so that the optical signals are more efficiently coupled to another optical device, such as another optical fiber.

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First Claim