CA2303885A1 - Optical system for injecting laser radiation into an optical conductor, and a method for its production - Google Patents

Optical system for injecting laser radiation into an optical conductor, and a method for its production Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2303885A1
CA2303885A1 CA002303885A CA2303885A CA2303885A1 CA 2303885 A1 CA2303885 A1 CA 2303885A1 CA 002303885 A CA002303885 A CA 002303885A CA 2303885 A CA2303885 A CA 2303885A CA 2303885 A1 CA2303885 A1 CA 2303885A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
optical system
convex
diaphragm
optical
laser radiation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002303885A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hans-Ludwig Althaus
Gerhard Kuhn
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Infineon Technologies AG
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2303885A1 publication Critical patent/CA2303885A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/10Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
    • G02B6/12Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type of the integrated circuit kind
    • G02B6/122Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
    • G02B6/124Geodesic lenses or integrated gratings
    • G02B6/1245Geodesic lenses
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B3/00Simple or compound lenses
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4204Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms
    • G02B6/4206Optical features
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/10Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
    • G02B6/12Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type of the integrated circuit kind
    • G02B2006/12083Constructional arrangements
    • G02B2006/12102Lens
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4204Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms

Abstract

The invention concerns an optical system for injecting laser radiation (5) emitted by a semiconductor laser emitter, into an optical fibre (3), wherein the converging lens (2) is arranged between the semiconductor laser emitter (1) and the optical fibre (3). A diaphragm (4) is applied on the converging lens (2) for stopping down part of the laser radiation (5) emitted by the semiconductor laser emitter (1).

Description

Description Optical system for injecting laser radiation into an optical conductor, and a method for its production The invention relates to an optical system as claimed in the precharacterising clause of claim 1, and to a method for producing a plurality of plano-convex convergent lenses which can be used in such an optical system.
In optical information transmission, radiation from semiconductor laser emitters, which generally emit widely divergent beams, has to be injected into optical conductors, such as optical fibers. Furthermore, the power to be injected has to be matched to the requirements of various transmissions systems and standards.
In known laser modules for information transmission technology (see, for example, DE 41 33 220), the laser emitter is followed by a spherical, biconvex or plano-convex lens, which converts the highly divergent beam into a convergent beam. In order to inject the desired radiation power into the optical conductor, said optical conductor must be adjusted in all three spatial directions. These systems thus involve a very high level of assembly effort, in particular owing to the complex adjustment in the z-direction. Furthermore, mechanical instabilities often occur in these systems.
A further disadvantageous of the known optical systems of the type mentioned initially is that additional technical means have to be used to prevent the laser radiation which is not injected into the optical conductor from emerging from the corresponding component.
European Patent Application EP 0 566 341 A1, which represents the closest prior art, describes a AMENDED SHEET

connector device for connecting a laser diode to an optical fiber. The connector device comprises a plano-convex lens arranged in the beam path on the inlet side, a diaphragm plate arranged behind the lens, and an optical connecting element provided on the light outlet side. The lens, diaphragm plate and optical connecting element are located (for reasons of mutual alignment) in a common socket, and their touching surfaces are bonded using a transparent adhesive.
The present invention is based on the object of providing an optical system of the type mentioned initially, which allows the optical device to be adjusted easily. The aim was, in particular, to provide an optical system by means of which the radiation power to be injected into the optical device (optical conductor) can be varied in a simple manner.
Furthermore, it is intended to specify a particularly simple method for producing such an optical system.
This obj ect is achieved by means of an optical system having the features of patent claim 1.
Advantageous developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims 2 to 6. One preferred use of the optical system according to the invention is the subject matter of dependent claim 7. Claim 8 specifies a preferred method for producing the optical system according to the invention.
The invention provides that the convergent lens is provided with a structured coating in the form of a diaphragm (for example a perforated or zone diaphragm) for masking out a portion of the laser radiation emitted from the semiconductor laser emitter. This is achieved by the convergent lens now passing only that portion of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser emitter which is intended to be injected into the optical conductor.
AMENDED SHEET

Masking out the laser radiation with a high divergence angle advantageously improves the quality of the focusing of the convergent lens. A major advantage of the optical system according to the invention is, in particular, that the portion of the beam emitted from the semiconductor laser emitter which is in any case not injected into the optical conductor is masked out.
In consequence, receptacle components advantageously achieve the same eye safety as pigtail components.
The structured coating (diaphragm) is preferably composed of metal, which can be applied in a simple manner to the surface of the convergent lens, by means of vapor deposition. The convergent lens may be composed of glass, silicon or some other semiconductor material that passes the respective laser radiation wavelength. It is particularly preferred for the convergent lens to be a plano-convex lens, with the structured coating being provided on the convex side.
The structured coating is preferably in the form of a perforated diaphragm and masks out that portion of the laser radiation whose divergence angle is greater than the acceptance angle of the optical conductor. The radiation power injected into the optical conductor is varied by varying the divergence angle below the value of the acceptance angle, without having to change the geometrical arrangement of the entire system comprising the semiconductor laser emitter/convergent lens/optical conductor.
If the structured coating is in the form of a zone diaphragm, the high-intensity central beam is masked out. This reduces the injected power and increases the eye safety of receptacle versions.
The optical system according to the invention can advantageously be used for injecting the laser beam from a semiconductor laser emitter into a multimode fiber, in which AMENDED SHEET

only the fundamental mode is stimulated, by masking out the laser radiation having a high divergence angle. The transmission characteristics of a single-mode fiber are thus simulated in the multimode fiber.
In a preferred method for producing a plurality of plano-convex convergent lenses, a silicon wafer is produced first of all, and is provided with a plurality of convex projections on a first main surface, by means of a photographic technique and etching. After this, a metal layer is applied to the first main surface and is then once again structured by means of a photographic technique and etching in such a manner that annular perforated diaphragms, or zone diaphragms in the form of discs, remain on the convex projections. Once its second main surface, for example, has been bonded onto an adhesive film, the silicon wafer is then sliced through, for example by sawing or cutting grinding, to form individual plano-convex convergent lenses with a perforated diaphragm or zone diaphragm.
The optical system according to the invention is, of course, not limited to use for injection of laser radiation into an optical fiber. It can be used in any apparatus in which only a portion of an available laser beam is intended to be injected into an optical device.
The optical system according to the invention and the method for producing it will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to two exemplary embodiments and in conjunction with Figures to 3 in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a section through the first exemplary embodiment, with the beam path, Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of a section through the second exemplary embodiment, with the beam path, and Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of the method for producing a plurality of optical systems as per the exemplary embodiment.
AMENDED SBEET

GR 97 P 2513 DE - 4a -In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, a convergent lens 2 in the form of a spherical or aspherical silicon plano-convex lens is arranged between a semiconductor laser emitter 1 and an optical conductor 3, in this case an optical fiber. The plano-convex lens 2 is provided on its curved surface 7 with a perforated diaphragm 4, which comprises a metallic layer 6 (for example A1). This perforated diaphragm 4 masks out an edge region of the highly divergent laser beam 5 emitted from the semiconductor laser emitter 1, allows only a center region of the laser beam 5 around its beam axis 9 to pass, and converts this into a convergent laser beam 8. Only AMENDED SHEET

this portion of the laser radiation 5 is injected into the optical fiber 3.
The perforated diaphragm is dimensioned, in particular, such that the convergence angle (or the divergence angle once again after passing through the focus) of the radiation to be injected is equal to or less than the acceptance angle of the optical fiber.
This means that the diaphragm 4 masks out that portion of the laser radiation 5 which is in any case not injected into the optical fiber 3.
The optical system shown in Figure 1 may be used for injecting laser radiation 5 into a multimode fiber as the optical conductor 3. Masking out the laser radiation having a high divergence angle then results in only the fundamental mode being stimulated. The transmission characteristics of a single-mode fiber are thus simulated in the multimode fiber.
The exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2 differs from that in Figure 1 essentially in that a zone diaphragm 4', which is in the form of a disc and once again comprises a metallic layer 6', is provided instead of the perforated diaphragm 4. This zone diaphragm masks out the high-intensity central beam of the laser beam 5 emitted from the semiconductor laser emitter 1.
The method shown schematically in Figure 2 for producing a plurality of plano-convex convergent lenses 2, composed of silicon, in which a perforated diaphragm 4 is applied to the convex side 7, has the following method steps:
a) production of a semiconductor wafer 10, b) production of a plurality of convex projections 11 on a first main surface 12 of the silicon wafer 10 by means of a photographic technique and etching, c) application of a metal layer 13 to the entire first main surface 12, d) structuring of the metal layer 12 by means of a photographic technique and etching, in such a manner that a diaphragm 4 remains on each convex projection 11, and e) slicing through the silicon wafer 10 between the convex projections 11, along separation lines 14, tc form individual plano-convex convergence lenses 2 with a diaphragm A plurality of plano-convex convergent lenses 2 with zone diaphragms 4' are produced, for example, using an analogous method.

List of reference symbols 1 Semiconductor laser emitter 2 Convergent lens 3 Optical conductor 4 Diaphragm 5 Laser radiation 6 Vapor-deposited layer 7 Convex side 8 Convergent beam 9 Beam axis 10 Semiconductor wafer 11 Convex projection 12 Main surface 13 Metal layer 14 Separation line

Claims (8)

claims
1. An optical system comprising a semiconductor laser emitter (1), an optical device, in particular an optical conductor (3) and a convergent lens (2), arranged between the semiconductor laser emitter (1) and the optical device, for injecting laser radiation (5), emitted from the semiconductor laser emitter (1), into the optical device, characterized in that the convergent lens (2) is provided with a coating (6) structured in the form of a diaphragm (4) in order to mask out a portion of the laser radiation (5) emitted from the semiconductor laser emitter (1).
2. The optical system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the structured coating (6) is composed of metal.
3. The optical system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the convergent lens (2) is composed of silicon.
4. The optical system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the convergent lens (2) is a plano-convex lens, of which the convex side is provided with the structured coating (6).
5. The optical system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the structured coating (6) is in the form of a perforated diaphragm (4) and masks out that portion of the laser radiation (5) whose divergence angle is greater than the acceptance angle of the optical device (3).
6. The optical system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the structured coating (6) is in the form of a zone diaphragm (4') and masks out the central beam of the laser radiation (5)
7. Use of an optical system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6 for injecting laser radiation (5) into a multimode line, in which only the fundamental mode of the multimode line is stimulated.
8. A method for producing a plurality of piano-convex convergence lenses (2), composed of a semiconductor material, in which a diaphragm (4) is applied to the convex side (7), having the method steps:
a) production of a semiconductor wafer (10), b) production of a plurality of convex projections (11) on a first main surface (12) of the semiconductor wafer (10) by means of a photographic technique and etching, c) application of a metal layer (13) to the entire first main surface (12), d) structuring of the metal layer (12) by means of a photographic technique and etching, in such a manner that a diaphragm (4) remains on each convex projection (11), and e) slicing through the semiconductor wafer (10) between the convex projections (11) to form individual piano-convex convergence lenses (2) with a diaphragm (4).
CA002303885A 1997-09-22 1998-09-17 Optical system for injecting laser radiation into an optical conductor, and a method for its production Abandoned CA2303885A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19741702 1997-09-22
DE19741702.7 1997-09-22
PCT/DE1998/002767 WO1999015926A1 (en) 1997-09-22 1998-09-17 Optical system for injecting laser radiation into an optical fibre and method for making same

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2303885A1 true CA2303885A1 (en) 1999-04-01

Family

ID=7843172

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002303885A Abandoned CA2303885A1 (en) 1997-09-22 1998-09-17 Optical system for injecting laser radiation into an optical conductor, and a method for its production

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (2) US6434297B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1018053B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001517810A (en)
CA (1) CA2303885A1 (en)
DE (1) DE59810104D1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999015926A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1104031B1 (en) * 1999-11-15 2012-04-11 Panasonic Corporation Nitride semiconductor laser diode and method of fabricating the same
JP2002243987A (en) * 2001-02-13 2002-08-28 Sony Corp Optical coupling device
US20030072525A1 (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-04-17 Theodore Sjodin Multi-mode fiber bandwidth enhancement using an optical fiber coupler
DE102005006052A1 (en) * 2004-12-21 2006-07-06 Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh Lens, laser assembly and method of making a laser assembly
US7375362B2 (en) * 2005-01-13 2008-05-20 Wd Media, Inc. Method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating stray light in an optical test head
US7302148B2 (en) * 2005-01-13 2007-11-27 Komag, Inc. Test head for optically inspecting workpieces
US8194045B1 (en) 2005-01-27 2012-06-05 Singleton Technology, Llc Transaction automation and archival system using electronic contract disclosure units
JP2009265392A (en) * 2008-04-25 2009-11-12 Hitachi Cable Ltd Optical transmitter

Family Cites Families (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4977407A (en) * 1981-07-23 1990-12-11 Crane Patrick E Optical collimator
US4753521A (en) * 1984-09-19 1988-06-28 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Lens system for focussing a divergent laser beam
JPS61248490A (en) * 1985-04-26 1986-11-05 Hitachi Ltd Measurement apparatus for semiconductor laser
US4752109A (en) * 1986-09-02 1988-06-21 Amp Incorporated Optoelectronics package for a semiconductor laser
DE3634187A1 (en) * 1986-10-03 1988-04-07 Siemens Ag Optical arrangement for injecting light into a 50 mu m gradient fibre
US4842360A (en) * 1987-06-18 1989-06-27 Summit Technology, Inc. High energy laser-to-waveguide coupling devices and methods
JPH02127605A (en) * 1988-11-08 1990-05-16 Toshiba Corp Optical component device
US4998794A (en) * 1989-10-27 1991-03-12 The Spectranetics Corporation Meniscus lens for coupling an excimer beam into an optical fiber
US5316640A (en) * 1991-06-19 1994-05-31 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Fabricating method of micro lens
US5309542A (en) * 1991-09-18 1994-05-03 International Business Machines Corporation Fiber optic transmitter modification for improved extinction ratio
DE4133220C2 (en) 1991-10-07 1994-12-15 Siemens Ag Fiber-lens arrangement for optical coupling
US5243681A (en) * 1992-04-13 1993-09-07 Amp Incorporated Aperture disk attenuator for laser diode connector
US5316527A (en) 1992-06-18 1994-05-31 Gregory Lekhtman Collapsible support for running in place exercising
DE4307986A1 (en) 1993-03-13 1994-09-15 Hirschmann Richard Gmbh Co Optical transmission device
US5633527A (en) * 1995-02-06 1997-05-27 Sandia Corporation Unitary lens semiconductor device
EP0780707A1 (en) * 1995-12-21 1997-06-25 Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH Element for UV high energy radiation transmission and method of fabrication of such an element and its utilisation
US5853960A (en) * 1998-03-18 1998-12-29 Trw Inc. Method for producing a micro optical semiconductor lens

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1999015926A1 (en) 1999-04-01
US20010026658A1 (en) 2001-10-04
DE59810104D1 (en) 2003-12-11
JP2001517810A (en) 2001-10-09
US6434297B1 (en) 2002-08-13
EP1018053A1 (en) 2000-07-12
EP1018053B1 (en) 2003-11-05
US6461799B2 (en) 2002-10-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4456330A (en) Optical coupling system and method for manufacturing same
US6621631B2 (en) Microsystem module
KR20180039704A (en) An optical component having a beam-orienting element, a method for its manufacture, and beam-
US4818049A (en) Method and apparatus for efficiently conveying light over a distance and effecting controlled illumination by projection thereof
US20050259918A1 (en) Optical fiber coupler having a relaxed alignment tolerance
JP2001514395A (en) Integrated beam shaper and method of using same
US4830453A (en) Device for optically coupling a radiation source to an optical transmission fiber
CN109633837A (en) Optical module
US20160124149A1 (en) Conditioned launch of a single mode light source into a multimode optical fiber
US6606432B2 (en) Phase mask consisting of an array of multiple diffractive elements for simultaneous accurate fabrication of large arrays of optical couplers and method for making same
CA2303885A1 (en) Optical system for injecting laser radiation into an optical conductor, and a method for its production
US7218804B2 (en) Method and device for establishing an optical connection between an optoelectronic component and an optical waveguide
US9331782B2 (en) Optical transmission system
US20040264856A1 (en) Micro-module with micro-lens
CN108508544B (en) Optical coupling system and optical coupling method
JPH0996760A (en) Optical device
US20040218854A1 (en) Apparatus and method for a filterless parallel WDM multiplexer
US20140084148A1 (en) Optical-quality cover for use with an optical coupling system, and an optical communications module that incorporates the optical-quality cover
JP4012571B2 (en) Systems related to light emission
US7164828B2 (en) Laser ribbon
CN110837151B (en) Method for manufacturing free form diffraction optical element and optical module using the same
JPS6215508A (en) Optical lens system
US10451889B2 (en) Optical communications module having an optics system that improves link performance, and methods
JPH0659615A (en) Forming method for hologram coupler
WO2001084193A1 (en) Phase mask consisting of an array of multiple diffractive elements for simultaneous accurate fabrication of large arrays of optical couplers and method for making same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued