# US 10,870,243 B2 · Method and device for producing microstructures on optical fibers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,243 B2 - Document ID: US10870243B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/765,914 - Filed: 2016-10-07 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-07 - Assignees: Baden-Württemberg Stiftung gGmbH; Nanoscribe GmbH - Applicants: BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG STIFTUNG gGmbH; Nanoscribe GmbH - Inventors: Harald Gießen; Michael Thiel; Timo Gissibl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870243B2 ## CPC - B29D 11/00663: {Production of light guides} - B29C 64/135: the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources - B29D 11/00951: {Measuring, controlling or regulating} - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - G02B 6/262: {Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements} - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual alignment of the optical fiber and the writing beam of the 3D printer is carried out with submicrometer accuracy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual alignment of the optical fiber and the writing beam of the 3D printer is carried out by means of a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual alignment of the optical fiber and the writing beam of the 3D printer comprises coupling light into a second axial end of the optical fiber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual alignment of the optical fiber and the writing beam of the 3D printer comprises detecting an edge of the optical fiber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual alignment of the optical fiber and the writing beam of the 3D printer comprises determining the position of a radial center point of the optical fiber and defining the determined position as a coordinate zero point of a coordinate system of the 3D printer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual alignment of the optical fiber and the writing beam of the 3D printer is carried out using an adjusting camera. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mutual alignment of the optical fiber and the writing beam of the 3D printer is carried out using an image recognition algorithm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein wetting the axial end of the optical fiber comprises immersing the axial end of the optical fiber into a photoresist reservoir provided directly on the objective of the 3D printer, and wherein the photoresist reservoir contains the photoresist. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein wetting the axial end of the optical fiber with photoresist comprises coating the objective of the 3D printer with the photoresist. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein wetting the axial end of the optical fiber comprises moving the axial end of the optical fiber in the photoresist. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein wetting the axial end of the optical fiber comprises a treatment with ultrasound. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein forming the at least one microstructure comprises polymerizing the photoresist, at least in part, by means of three-dimensional laser lithography, and wherein the polymerizing of the photoresist is carried out, at least in part, by varying a laser focus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein forming the at least one microstructure further comprises removing residual photoresist. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the alignment unit further comprises a light source for coupling light into a second axial end of the optical fiber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the alignment unit is adapted to mutually align the optical fiber arranged in the holder and a writing beam of the 3D printer, with the aid of the light coupled into the second axial end of the optical fiber by the light source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the alignment unit further comprises a displacement unit for displacing the optical fiber arranged in the holder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the alignment unit further comprises an adjusting camera for determining and/or checking the mutual alignment of the optical fiber arranged in the holder and the writing beam of the 3D printer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the alignment unit further comprises a fiber edge detection device for detecting an edge of the optical fiber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the 3D printer comprises an inverse modified microscope.