Double lens array for optical cross-connects
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsRobert A. Bellman, Ronald L. Burt, Donald M. Trotter, Ljerka Ukrainczyk
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Abstract
A method for aligning optical fibers with an optical component includes making a lens on an end of each optical fiber to form a microlensed fiber and arranging the microlensed fibers such that an optical axis of each of the optical fibers is oriented along a common direction. The method further includes positioning each lens a selected distance from the optical component so as to couple light into and out of the optical component.
Claims18
A method of making an array of collimated beams from an array of optical fibers, comprising:
- arranging a plurality of lensed fibers such that their optical axes are oriented along a common direction, each lensed fiber having a planoconvex lens disposed at an end of an optical fiber, the planoconvex lens expanding a beam emerging from the optical fiber to reduce back-reflection;
- and
- positioning a lens component a selected distance from the planoconvex lenses so as to produce an array of collimated beams from the expanded beams, the expanded beams enabling improved tolerance alignment between the optical fibers and the lens component.
A method of making a collimated beam from an optical fiber, comprising:
- aligning a lensed fiber to a lens component, the lensed fiber having a planoconvex lens disposed at an end of an optical fiber, the planoconvex lens expanding a beam emerging from the optical fiber to reduce back-reflection;
- and
- positioning a lens component a selected distance from the planoconvex lens so as to produce a collimated beam from the expanded beam, the expanded beam enabling improved tolerance alignment between the optical fiber and the lens component.
A multichannel component, comprising:
- a lens component;
- and
- a plurality of lensed fibers arranged in an array and aligned along a common direction, each lensed fiber having a planoconvex lens disposed at an end of an optical fiber, the planoconvex lenses positioned a selected distance from the lens component, wherein the planoconvex lenses expand beams emerging from the optical fibers to reduce back-reflection, the lens component produces an array of collimated beams from the expanded beams, and the expanded beams enable improved tolerance alignment between the optical fibers and the lens component.
A device for an optical cross-connect, comprising:
- a lens array;
- and
- an array of lensed fibers positioned a selected distance from the lens array, each lensed fiber having a planoconvex lens disposed at an end of an optical fiber, wherein the planoconvex lenses expand beams emerging from the optical fibers to produce expanded beams having reduced back-reflection, the lens array produces an array of collimated beams from the expanded beams, and the expanded beams enable improved tolerance alignment between the optical fibers and the lens array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.