Method for fabrication of cylindrical microlenses of selected shape

Patent · Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7207302

Snyder, J J; Baer, T M

The present invention provides a diffraction limited, high numerical aperture (fast) cylindrical microlens. The method for making the microlens is adaptable to produce a cylindrical lens that has almost any shape on its optical surfaces. The cylindrical lens may have a shape, such as elliptical or hyperbolic, designed to transform some particular given input light distribution into some desired output light distribution. In the method, the desired shape is first formed in a glass preform. Then, the preform is heated to the minimum drawing temperature and a fiber is drawn from it. The cross-sectional shape of the fiber bears a direct relation to the shape of the preform from which it was drawn. During the drawing process, the surfaces become optically smooth due to fire polishing. The present invention has many applications, such as integrated optics, optical detectors and laser diodes. The lens, when connected to a laser diode bar, can provide a high intensity source of laser radiation for pumping a high average power solid state laser. In integrated optics, a lens can be used to couple light into and out of apertures such as waveguides. The lens can also be used to collect light, and focus it on a detector. 11 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5080706; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-591462
• OSTI ID: 7207302
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 28 Sep 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
LENSES
FABRICATION
RADIATION DETECTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
USES
VISIBLE RADIATION
CONFIGURATION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SOLID STATE LASERS
426002* - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)
440600 - Optical Instrumentation- (1990-)