Replicated diffractive optical lens components for laser-diode to fiber coupling in optical bench arrangements

Juergen Soechtig; Helmut Schift; Bruce D. Patterson; S. Westenhoefer

doi:10.1117/12.284573

2 September 1997 Replicated diffractive optical lens components for laser-diode-to-fiber coupling in optical bench arrangements

Juergen Soechtig, Helmut Schift, Bruce D. Patterson, S. Westenhoefer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3226, Microelectronic Structures and MEMS for Optical Processing III; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.284573
Event: Micromachining and Microfabrication, 1997, Austin, TX, United States

Abstract

We report on the fabrication of lens components, based on diffractive optical elements, for the purpose of imaging laser-diode emission onto fibers or photodetectors, or for collimation applications. The miniature optical elements are arranged in arrays with 250 micrometer pitch which make them well suited for applications with fiber ribbons. Test optical plates were made of polycarbonate using hot stamper replication technology. The imaging properties of these optical plates from single-mode fibers onto single-mode fibers or from lasers onto single-mode fibers are discussed. The addition of 3D-marker structures to the outline borders of such plates made them suitable for use in micro-optical benches with built-in mechanical registration structures. We fabricated the optical bench inserts with built-in passive alignment elements using deep x-ray LIGA technology (LIGA is a German acronym for 'lithographie, galvanik und abformung' meaning lithography, electroforming and molding). This technology offers high mechanical precision even for the 500 micrometer thick optical bench inserts which we fabricated by injection molding out of transparent and thermally stable polycarbonate. We report on first arrangements of plastic optical bench inserts into micro-optical benches. With the aim towards a fully replicated micro-optical bench made out of plastic we also report on a mounting concept for laser-didoes with built-in alignment trenches. The fabrication process and important properties of these special lasers which we recently developed for transceiver applications are described. We use these lasers for imaging onto single-mode fibers applying the diffractive optical element plates already mentioned.

Citation Download Citation

Juergen Soechtig, Helmut Schift, Bruce D. Patterson, and S. Westenhoefer "Replicated diffractive optical lens components for laser-diode-to-fiber coupling in optical bench arrangements", Proc. SPIE 3226, Microelectronic Structures and MEMS for Optical Processing III, (2 September 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.284573

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