Miniaturization of gradient index lens used in optical components
First Claim
1. A GRIN lens comprising a body of glass material, said body having an axis and dimensions in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said dimensions being not more than about 1.2 mm, said body having a gradient constant with respect to said axis in a range of about 0.30 to 0.36.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
GRIN lenses are made by an ion/exchange process. In order to make a GRIN lens whose gradient index varies slowly radially, a cylindrical glass rod of a sufficiently large diameter is immersed in a salty bath. The size of the lens may be reduced by grinding, polishing or chemically etching away a peripheral optically dispensable portion of the lens away from the axis of the lens so that the outer diameter of the lens is as small as 0.8 millimeters. When such a smaller lens is used in optical components such as circulators, switches, WDM'"'"'s and isolators, such optical devices would also be reduced in size to fit within a limited space.
53 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A GRIN lens comprising a body of glass material, said body having an axis and dimensions in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said dimensions being not more than about 1.2 mm, said body having a gradient constant with respect to said axis in a range of about 0.30 to 0.36.
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4. A method for making a GRIN lens comprising:
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providing a body of electromagnetic radiation transmissive material, said body having an axis and dimensions in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said dimensions being more than about 1.2 mm; causing ion exchange between said body and a medium so that the body has a gradient constant with respect to said axis in a range of about 0.30 to 0.36; and removing material from a peripheral portion of said body so that said dimensions in said plane of said body are not more than about 1.2 mm. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical instrument, comprising:
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an array of two or more first GRIN lenses for transmitting electromagnetic radiation; one or more second GRIN lens for transmitting electromagnetic radiation; and means for controlling transfer of electromagnetic radiation between said first and second GRIN lenses, wherein at least one of the first GRIN lenses comprises a body of glass material, said body having an axis and dimensions in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said dimensions being not more than about 1.2 mm, said lens having a gradient constant with respect to said axis in a range of about 0.30 to 0.36. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 14)
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Specification