Chemical mill method and structure formed thereby
AssigneeLightMatrix Technologies, Inc.
InventorsAli Ouali, Jian-Ming Yuan, Vipulkumar Patel
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Abstract
The present invention consists of a method and a structure formed by such method relating to optical fibers. Specifically, the invention consists of a chemical mill process for shaping the end of a fiber and thereby simultaneously forming both lens and precision mounting region. Also described is a self-aligning structure with integral lens. Both features improve light coupling. The lens focuses light energy entering and exiting the fiber. The precision mounting region facilitates alignment of fiber at couplings.
Claims20
A method for simultaneously milling a lens onto a fiber end and an attachment structure immediately adjacent to said lens, said lens focusing light entering and exiting an optical fiber, said attachment structure aligning said optical fiber at a coupling, comprising the steps of:
- a. cleaving said optical fiber;
- b. fixing a length of said fiber end within an etchant bath, said fiber end statically positioned within said etchant bath;
- and
- c. milling said length of said fiber end thereby forming both said lens and said attachment structure.
A self-aligning fiber end with an integral light focusing structure comprising:
- a. a lens structure;
- and
- b. an alignment structure, said alignment and said lens structures simultaneously milled onto said fiber end, said alignment structure having a dimensionally precise outer surface of sufficient dimensions to align said fiber end with a second element thereby maximizing light coupling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.