Optical assemblies for free-space optical propagation between waveguide(s) and/or fiber(s)
US7269317B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3692
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical apparatus comprises a substrate, first and second transmission optical elements on the substrate, and an optical component (such as an isolator) and focusing optical element(s) on the substrate between the transmission elements. Transmission elements may include planar waveguide(s) formed on the substrate and/or optical fiber(s) mounted in groove(s) on the substrate. The focusing element(s) may include: gradient-index (GRIN) segment(s) mounted on the substrate or spliced onto a fiber, a focusing segment(s) of a planar waveguide, ball lens(es), aspheric lens(es), and/or Fresnel lens(es). A dual-lens optical assembly comprises a pair of GRIN segments secured to a substrate in one or more grooves, and may be formed from a common length of GRIN optical medium. An optical component (such as an isolator) is positioned between the paired GRIN segments, and optical power is transmitted by the dual-lens assembly between planar waveguide(s) and/or fiber(s) through the optical component.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.