4 x 16 polymer fiber optical array couplers

A 4/spl times/16 plastic array coupler for power splitting in large-core polymer optical fibers is proposed and fabricated. Maximum coupling efficiencies of up to 84.7% and 91.4% were observed using, respectively, the total internal reflection type and metal coating type micromirrors formed along polymer fibers of 1.0-mm core diameter and 0.485 numerical aperture. The coupling uniformity for the two cases were 86% and 74%, respectively. The coupling efficiency and its relation to misalignments are studied.