Method and apparatus for integrating optical fibers with collimating lenses
US6563975B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 13, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 18, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/422
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A two-dimensional optical switch (10) includes a hermetically sealed housing (41) cooperable with several input fibers (11-18) and several output fibers (21-28). A digital micromirror device (71) is disposed within the housing, and can selectively effect travel of radiation between each input fiber and any one of the output fibers. The housing includes two lens sections (56, 57), which each have a platelike support portion (106), and several lens portions (111-118) of approximately semi-spherical shape that project from the inner side of the support portion. Each of the input fibers is fixedly secured to an outer side of one lens section in alignment with a respective lens portion thereon, and each of the output fibers is fixedly secured to the outside of the other lens section in alignment with a respective lens portion thereon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.