Method and device for producing microstructures on optical fibers
AssigneesBaden-Württemberg Stiftung gGmbH, Nanoscribe GmbH
InventorsHarald Gießen, Michael Thiel, Timo Gissibl
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for producing at least one microstructure (5) on an axial end (1a) of an optical fiber (1). The method comprises the following steps: —providing (S10) the optical fiber (1); —wetting (S20) the axial end (1a) of the optical fiber (1) with photoresist (2); —orienting (S30) the optical fiber (1) and a writing beam of a 3D printer with respect to one another; —forming (S40) the at least one microstructure (5) by exposing the photoresist (2) to light with the aid of the 3D printer.
Claims21
A method for producing at least one microstructure on an axial end of an optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
- providing the optical fiber;
- wetting the axial end of the optical fiber with photoresist by immersing the axial end of the optical fiber into a photoresist provided on an objective of the 3D printer;
- mutually aligning the optical fiber and a writing beam of a 3D printer;
- forming the at least one microstructure by exposing the photoresist with the aid of the 3D printer.
A device for producing at least one microstructure on an axial end of an optical fiber, comprising:
- a holder for arranging and holding the optical fiber;
- a 3D printer for exposing a photoresist applied to an axial end of the optical fiber, the 3D printer comprising:
- a writing beam;
- an objective through which the writing beam passes;
- a photoresist reservoir provided directly on the objective, the photoresist reservoir containing the photoresist and operative to allow the axial end of the optical fiber to be immersed in the photoresist;
- an alignment unit for mutually aligning the optical fiber arranged in the holder and the writing beam of the 3D printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.