EP0370663A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical coupling of optical fibres and optical devices
Assignee: BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
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Filing: 1989-11-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Coupling of light from monomode fibres or devices to other fibres or devices is achieved simply and without micromanipulation by the alignment of the outer diameters of optical elements which have common diameters. Lensing is achieved by using a section of multimode fibre (10) to act as a graded index lens. Alignment of devices to the common optical axis can be achieved with no micromanipulation of any of the components. Substrate (42) has a V-groove (44) etched in its upper surface in which is located fibre (6) together with spacer elements (14, 16) and lens fibre section (10). These elements may be secured in V-groove (44) by an adhesive bond or by solder in order to precisely align the elements coaxially with a light transmitting/conducting/receiving device (40) mounted on the side face (46) of optical device (40).
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Arthur Randle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/26; G02B6/32; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4228; G02B6/423; G02B6/4295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A light collimating optical system, the system comprising first and second light transmitting/receiving/conducting devices, a section of optical fibre having a refractive index which changes gradually in a radial direction, first and second light conducting means positioned adjacent to the optical fibre section and having a diameter common with that of the optical fibre section and serving to conduct light between the first and second light transmitting/receiving/conducting devices via the optical fibre section, and mounting means serving to hold the optical fibre section and said first and second light conducting means in a common optical axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A light collimating optical system, the system comprising first and second light transmitting/receiving/conducting devices, a section of optical fibre having a refractive index which changes gradually in a radial direction, first and second light conducting means positioned adjacent to the optical fibre section and having a diameter common with that of the optical fibre section and serving to conduct light between the first and second light transmitting/receiving/conducting devices via the optical fibre section, and mounting means serving to hold the optical fibre section and said first and second light conducting means in a common optical axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second light conducting means comprising spacing elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacing elements comprise optical fibre sections.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and/or said second light transmitting/receiving/conducting device comprises an optical fibre and constitutes said first and/or said second light conducting means respectively.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mounting means comprises a hollow tubular member firmly gripping said first and second light conducting means and the section of optical fibre therewithin.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
44 words
A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said mounting means comprises a substrate having a surface in which is formed a V-groove, and the optical fibre section and first and second light conducting means are seated in said V-groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and/or said second light transmitting/receiving/conducting devices are respectively comprised in first and/or second integrated optical devices mounted on said substrate surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the or each integrated optical device is mounted on the substrate by a technique involving soldering an array of solder pads on the substrate surface to an array of solder pads on the adjacent surface of the integrated optical device, and controlling the amount of solder forming a solder drop interconnecting registering solder pads whereby to align the integrated optical device in the plane of the substrate and in a height dimension normal to the plane of the substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Light collimating systems as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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