Precision alignment and assembly of microlenses and microcolumns
AssigneeEtec Systems, Inc.
InventorsKim Y. Lee, Ho-Seob Kim, Stephen A. Rishton, Tai-Hon Philip Chang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and the associated apparatus for alignment and assembly of microlenses and microcolumns in which aligning structures such as rigid fibers are used to precisely align multiple microlens components. Alignment openings are formed in the microlens components and standard optical fibers are threaded through the openings in each microlens component as they are stacked. The fibers provide sufficient stiffness and stability to the structure to precisely align the apertures of the microlens components and thereby allow for increased assembly efficiency over traditional microlens and microcolumn bonding techniques.
Claims28
A method for assembling a microlens assembly, comprising:
- providing a first microlens component and a second microlens component;
- forming a first base opening in said first microlens component;
- forming a first alignment opening in said second microlens component;
- and
- threading a first rigid aligner through the first base opening and the first alignment opening, thereby aligning the first microlens component and the second microlens component.
A microlens, comprising:
- a first microlens component including a first base opening;
- a spacer disposed on a first surface of the first microlens component;
- a second microlens component defining a first alignment opening, said second microlens component being disposed on a surface of the spacer opposite the first microlens component;
- a first aligner extending through the first base opening and the first alignment opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.