Recent Developments In The Packaging Of Single-Mode Optical Components And Their Potential Impact On The Future Of Single-Mode Technology

The first generation of components for use in single-mode optical fibre transmission systems are now becoming commercially available. To achieve the full potential of single-mode technology, however, new automated packaging techniques are required that will result in a significant reduction in packaging costs, and that will also allow the production of new advanced hybrid components. This paper briefly reviews new techniques for packaging single-mode optical components that are under development at the British Telecom Research Laboratories.