PNNL

Abstract

This microclip based fiber holding system consists of anisotropically etched grooves and pits having free-standing flexible holding clips in different shapes along groove and pit edges to support the fibers and clips as schematically shown in Figure 1. In general, the requirements on the holding microclips are contradictory. The holding microclips should be flexible in order to install or withdraw the fiber, on the other hand, it should be enough stiff to provide the contact force in order to hold the fiber in V-grooves. An early evaluation and optimization of the desired system is efficient way to reduce the production time, cost and the risk for achieving an undesirable system performance [1,2].