Abstract

A self-alignment technique that uses optical microconnectors for three-dimensional optics in optical computing systems and optical interconnections is proposed. The optical microconnector consists of an optical plug and a socket. On the output plane of an optical system, optical plugs are made of a photosensitive resin exposed to light through the optical system. Because the corresponding positions of the optical plugs are critical to the image formed by the optical system, a detecting device can be aligned and mounted by the connection of the optical plugs to sockets formed on the surface of the device. Optical microconnectors were experimentally fabricated in a reflective block optical system. An alignment accuracy of ∼20 μm was attained in the experiment.

© 1998 Optical Society of America

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