US 7,682,147 B2 · Apparatus for forming an array of microlenses under artificial gravity

Abstract

A microlens is affixed in the far field of an optical fiber to spatially transform a beam either entering or exiting the fiber. In a first embodiment, a droplet of photo polymer is placed on the end of an optical fiber and the fiber is spun to create an artificial gravity. The droplet is cured by UV radiation during the spinning. In a second embodiment, nanoparticles are mixed into the droplet to increase the refractive index of the photo polymer. A third embodiment employs artificial gravity to attach a microsphere to the end of the optical fiber. A fourth embodiment chemically treats the surface of the microsphere so that the requirement of artificial gravity is either reduced or eliminated. In a fifth embodiment the droplet is cured under equilibrium or nonequilibrium conditions to obtain different final shapes for the lenslet. A sixth embodiment discloses fabrication of microlens arrays.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims2

Dependent claims

An apparatus for forming an array of microlenses under artificial gravity, comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of circular mesas formed therein;
a photopolymer droplet positioned atop each of said circular mesas;
a rotatably mounted disc adapted for rotation about a central axis of rotation;
said disc having a top wall of first predetermined diameter, a bottom wall of second predetermined diameter less than said first predetermined diameter, and a sidewall interconnecting said top and bottom walls to one another, said sidewall presenting a wedge-shaped profile when viewed in side elevation;
the substrate secured to said side wall;
a rotor housing that is concentrically mounted with respect to said central axis of rotation of said disc disposed in encircling relation to said disc;
a plurality of UV light sources positioned in circumferential spacing around an inside wall of said rotor housing so that a uniform light intensity impinges upon each photopolymer droplet regardless of its instantaneous position;
a housing covering each substrate;
a UV-transparent window means formed in each housing;
whereby rotation of said disc about said central axis with a predetermined time profile of rotational speed for a predetermined amount of time forms said array of miocrolenses.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,739 words

Summary1,894 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates, generally, to the fabrication of microlenses attached to the end of optical fibers or small cylindrical rods in general. The purpose of the microlens is to focus light entering or leaving the fiber or mini-rod.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a drop of liquid depending from an optical fiber;

#FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view depicting the focusing of a thick lens;

Detailed description2,595 words

#In a first embodiment, the lens material is a droplet of photopolymer, thermoplastic, sol-gel, or the like and is applied to a preselected end of a rod or fiber. The lens material is selected from the group of suitable lens materials having a large refractive index, high transparency, low shrinkage upon curing, good thermal stability, and ease of curing while centrifuged. The optical fiber is cleaved at a preselected end and the coating of optical fiber is removed with a stripping agent. The droplet is applied at the cleaved end and the optical fiber and droplet are placed in an artificial gravitational acceleration.

#The shape of the liquid drop is found from Laplace's formula:

#1 R 1 + 1 R 2 + g ⁢ ⁢ ρ ⁢ ⁢ y α = const . ( equation ⁢ ⁢ 1 )

Facts

Application

11/539,387Filed 6 Oct 2006 · division

Priority

20 Feb 2002

Published

US 2007/0074655 A15 Apr 2007

Granted

23 Mar 2010

Term ended

7 Jun 2025

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 838 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

G02B 3/00
Simple or compound lenses
G02B 3/0012
Arrays: characterised by the manufacturing method
G02B 6/262
Optical coupling means: optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated…
G02B 6/32
Optical coupling means: having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends

Family

Application60/358,143Us provisional application · filed 20 Feb 2002

Application10/369,993Parent of this division · filed 20 Feb 2003

US 2007/0074655 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Apr 2007

US 7,128,943 B1Parent of this division

US 7,682,147 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

20 Feb 2002Priority claimedParent application 60/358,143
6 Oct 2006Application filedUS 11/539,387
30 Oct 2006Assigned to University of South Floridaassignment of assignor's interest
5 Apr 2007PublishedUS 2007/0074655 A1
23 Mar 2010GrantedUS 7,682,147 B2
7 Jun 2025Term endedEstimated, includes 838 days of adjustment

Apparatus for forming an array of microlenses under artificial gravity

Life of this patent

Apparatus for forming an array of microlenses under artificial gravity

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims2

Description4,739 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,739 words