Document Type
Patent
Publication Date
March 2010
Patent Number
7682147
Abstract
A microlens is affixed in the far field of an optical fiber to spatially transform a beam either entering or exiting the fiber. In a first embodiment, a droplet of photo polymer is placed on the end of an optical fiber and the fiber is spun to create an artificial gravity. The droplet is cured by UV radiation during the spinning. In a second embodiment, nanoparticles are mixed into the droplet to increase the refractive index of the photo polymer. A third embodiment employs artificial gravity to attach a microsphere to the end of the optical fiber. A fourth embodiment chemically treats the surface of the microsphere so that the requirement of artificial gravity is either reduced or eliminated. In a fifth embodiment the droplet is cured under equilibrium or nonequilibrium conditions to obtain different final shapes for the lenslet. A sixth embodiment discloses fabrication of microlens arrays.
Application Number
11/539,387
Recommended Citation
Djeu, Nicholas, "Apparatus for forming an array of microlenses under artificial gravity" (2010). USF Patents. 471.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/usf_patents/471
Assignees
University of South Florida
Filing Date
10/06/2006
Primary/U.S. Class
425/445
