Method for connecting optical fiber and optical waveguide
US6411759B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/30
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fusion joint between a waveguide (1a) and an optical fiber (2) is created by irradiating the interface (4) between the optical fiber and the waveguide using a laser beam. The spatial distribution of the energy furnished to the interface presents a central zone of which the energy is reduced with respect to a peripheral zone, whereby to enable a relatively high energy laser to be used while avoiding bending of the waveguide. The laser beam is caused to irradiate a higher energy density upon the waveguide than the optical fiber, typically by offsetting the center of the laser beam towards the waveguide. The fusion is performed while a force F urges the waveguide and optical fiber towards one another, so as to avoid the creation of a void at the boundary. A supplementary polymer or mineral joint can be provided. A method for multi-fiber fusion pigtailing more than a single optical fiber to respective waveguiding regions in a planar waveguide includes using a diffractive optical element (130) to produce a multiple energy distribution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.