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US 2003/0118305 A1Published application
Grin fiber lenses
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsWilliam Alfred Reed, Mark J. Schnitzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A GRIN fiber lens has a silica-glass core whose refractive index has a radial profile. The profile has a radial second derivative whose average magnitude in the core is less than about 1.7×10−6 microns−2 times the value of the refractive index on the axis of the GRIN fiber lens.
Claims25
An apparatus, comprising:
- a GRIN fiber lens having a silica-glass core whose refractive index has a radial profile, the profile has a radial second derivative whose average magnitude in the core is less than about 1.7×10−6 microns 2 times the value of the refractive index on the axis of the GRIN fiber lens.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first optical fiber;
- a first GRIN fiber lens attached to the first optical fiber;
- a second optical fiber;
- a second GRIN fiber lens attached to the second optical fiber;
- and
- an optical device capable of directing a portion of a light beam emitted from a free end of the first GRIN fiber lens to the second GRIN fiber lens;
- and
- wherein the GRIN fiber lenses have silica-glass cores and refractive indexes with radial profiles, the profiles having radial second derivatives with average magnitudes in cores of less than about 1.7×10−6 microns−2 times the refractive index on the axes of the respective GRIN fiber lenses.
5 more elements
A method for fabricating a GRIN fiber, comprising:
- providing a doped silica-glass preform having an axial core and a tubular cladding surrounding and adjacent the core, the core having a graded index of refraction, the cladding having a lower refractive index than the core;
- etching the preform to remove an outer layer of the tubular cladding;
- and
- drawing the GRIN fiber from the etched preform.
1 more element
A method for fabricating a GRIN fiber, comprising:
- forming a tube of silica-glass having a tubular core and a concentric tubular cladding adjacent and external to the tubular core, the core having a dopant density with a radially graded profile;
- partially collapsing the tube by applying heat thereto, the partially collapsed tube having a central channel;
- passing a glass etchant through the central canal to remove an internal layer of silica glass;
- and
- then, collapsing the etched tube to a rod-like preform.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.