Document Type
Patent
Publication Date
October 2006
Patent Number
7128943
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 equlibrium or nonequilibrium conditions to obtain different final shapes for the lenslet. A sixth embodiment discloses fabrication of microlens arrays.
Application Number
10/369,993
Recommended Citation
Djeu, Nicholas, "Methods for fabricating lenses at the end of optical fibers in the far field of the fiber aperture" (2006). USF Patents. 671.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/usf_patents/671
Assignees
University of South Florida
Filing Date
02/20/2003
Primary/U.S. Class
427/162
