Lensed optical fibers and unique micropipettes with subwavelength apertures
US6600856B1 · kind B1 · utility
7Cited by
16References
13Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 21, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2552
- WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for producing subwavelength near-field optical apertures includes directing a laser beam at the top of a tapered optical fiber to melt the fiber tip. The melting forms a lens at the tip, and the resulting structure is then coated with metal in such a way that an aperture is left open, or the aperture is formed in the metal by means of an ion beam or a laser beam. In another embodiment, the tip of a micropipette is melted by a laser beam to form an aperture having thick walls.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.