Coupling of optical devices to optical fibers by means of microl

Details Coupling of optical devices to optical fibers by means of microl Coupling of optical devices to optical fibers by means of microl

1989-11-30

1991-04-30

Lee, John D.

350 9615, 357 74, G02B 642

Patent

active

050112546

ABSTRACT:
This invention is concerned with coupling optical energy efficiently by means of a microlens at an end of an optical fiber, the microlens being capable of improved coupling efficiency exceeding 55 percent (-2.5 dB), with coupling efficiencies of about 90 percent or more (less than 0.45 dB and as low as 0.22 dB loss) for uncoated lenses and of 95 percent or more for antireflection coated lenses being obtainable. An optimal microlens shape is substantially a hyperboloid of revolution having a relatively short focal length, f, e.g., for a mode radius of the optical device .omega..sub.0 =1 .mu.m and a mode radius of the optical fiber .omega..sub.1 =5 .mu.m, f.perspectiveto.12 .mu.m. The microlens having the substantially hyperboloid of revolution shape may be produced by laser micromachinning technique. The optical fiber with the novel microlens at its end may be used in optical communication packages comprising the fiber and an optical device. The latter may be selected from semiconductor lasers and amplifiers, fiber amplifiers, pump sources for fiber amplifiers, and may include light receiving devices such as photodetectors.

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