Microlensed optical terminals and optical system equipped therewith, and methods for their manufacture, especially an optical coupling method and optical coupler for use therewith
September 21, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesOptical coupling system and method for manufacturing same Laser diode pumped solid state laser with miniaturized quick disconnect laser head Method and apparatus for constructing microlens ends for optical fibers Integral optical fiber coupler Optical fiber termination including pure silica lens and method of making same Optic fiber positioning for lensing method Optical coupling device Lensed optic fiber terminus and method Low-loss, high-isolation, fiber-optic isolator Optical fibre couplings Patent #: 5185836 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 947565 filed on 09/21/1992US Classes:385/35, Spherical385/61Lens-shaped ferruleExaminersPrimary: Lee, John D.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassG02B 006/32Foreign Application Priority Data1991-09-21 JPAbstractThe tip of a first optical fiber 8 is fused integrally to a second optical fiber 7, having a single refractive index and an identical outer diameter, which has a spherical lens 10 with the length and diameter to produce a beam expansion by Gaussian diffusion to at least 80 μm or greater at the exit and a radius of curvature greater than 200 μm. The spherical part of the second fiber is formed by thermal fusion; a spherical lens having the desired diameter at the optical fiber tip is formed by feeding the optical fiber tip into a thermal fusion unit to form the spherical lens. An optical fiber terminal for optical coupling composed of a single mode optical fiber, a non-doped silica fiber beam expansion segment, and a non-doped silica spherical lens, is connected to a polarization-independent optical isolator. A ferrule support having a rotatable spherical segment formed at the tip, in which the second optical fiber and an optical fiber protecting material are inserted and stabilized in a through-hole of the ferrule support, and a coupling unit consisting of a flange and a cap, which contact with the spherical surface of the spherical segment at opposite sides after the ferrule support has been adjusted into a position which produces an optimal beam converging function. | |
