Method for fabrication of cylindrical microlenses of selected shape
Abstract
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 onmore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7207302
- Patent Number(s):
- 5080706
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-591462
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 28 Sep 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 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-)
Citation Formats
Snyder, J J, and Baer, T M. Method for fabrication of cylindrical microlenses of selected shape. United States: N. p., 1992.
Web.
Snyder, J J, & Baer, T M. Method for fabrication of cylindrical microlenses of selected shape. United States.
Snyder, J J, and Baer, T M. Tue .
"Method for fabrication of cylindrical microlenses of selected shape". United States.
@article{osti_7207302,
title = {Method for fabrication of cylindrical microlenses of selected shape},
author = {Snyder, J J and Baer, T M},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}