Face-Lock/sup TM/ optical fiber connector design and fabrication

In order to reduce the part and labor cost of optical fiber connectors, desirably to a level close to that of coaxial cable connectors, photolithography and plastic molding technology are used in combination to create a novel structure in which through-holes for positioning optical fibers are micromachined from the rear side of a silicon wafer, while recesses and ridges are fabricated on the front side of the wafer for two-dimensional lateral alignment of the through-holes and the fibers.