Wafer integration of micro-optics
First Claim
1. An optical system, comprising:
- a plurality of opto-electronic devices situated substantially in a plane;
a fore optic, having an optical axis, situated proximate to said plurality of opto-electronic devices; and
a plurality of micro lenses situated between said plurality of opto-electronic devices and said fore optic; and
wherein;
each micro lens of said plurality of micro lenses is situated on a post.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an optical system that includes an array of opto-electronic devices, an array of micro lenses, and a fore optic. The array of opto-electronic devices lie substantially along a plane, but the fore optic has a non-planar focal field. To compensate for the non-planar focal field of the fore optic, each opto-electronic device has a corresponding micro lens. Each micro lens has a focal length and/or separation distance between it and it respective opto-electronic device, which compensates for the non-planar focal field of the fore optic. The focal lengths of these lenses may differ relative to one another. As a result, light that is provided by the fore optic is reconfigured by the micro lenses having various focal lengths to be substantially focused along the plane of the array of opto-electronic devices. Various arrangements of microlenses, placing lenses on standoffs or posts, forming of optical waveguides, lens fabrication, wafer integration of micro-optics, and optical coupling are noted.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An optical system, comprising:
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a plurality of opto-electronic devices situated substantially in a plane;
a fore optic, having an optical axis, situated proximate to said plurality of opto-electronic devices; and
a plurality of micro lenses situated between said plurality of opto-electronic devices and said fore optic; and
wherein;
each micro lens of said plurality of micro lenses is situated on a post. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for compensating for a non-planar focal field of a fore optic used in an optical system having a plurality of opto-electronic devices, comprising:
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providing a plurality of opto-electronic devices substantially in a plane;
providing a fore optic having an optical axis;
providing a plurality of micro lenses situated on a plurality of posts;
setting the lengths of said plurality of posts to at least partially adjust the focal lengths of the plurality of micro lenses to compensate for the non-planar focal field of the fore optic. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An optical system comprising:
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an array of opto-electronic devices situated substantially in a plane;
a fore optic having a non-planar focal field, proximate to said array of opto-electronic devices;
an array of micro lenses situated between said fore optic and said array of opto-electronic devices; and
an array of spacers situated between said array of micro lenses and said array of opto-electronic devices; and
wherein;
each spacer provides a separation distance between each micro lens and each opto-electronic device; and
the separation distance at least partially compensates for the non-planar focal field of said fore optic. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An optical system comprising:
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a fore optic having a non-planar focal field;
a plurality of substantially optically transparent posts situated on a first surface of a first substrate;
a plurality of micro lenses situated on said plurality of posts; and
wherein;
focal lengths of said plurality of said micro lenses are at least partially determined by distances of said plurality of posts between the micro lenses and the first surface of said first substrate; and
the focal lengths of said plurality of said micro lenses are such as to compensate the non-planar focal field of said fore optic into a substantially planar focal field. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. Means for planarizing a focal field, comprising:
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means for focusing light having a non-planar focal field; and
means for substantially planarizing the focal field; and
wherein;
said means for substantially planarizing comprises means for focusing in increments;
the focusing in increments has various focal lengths for substantially planarizing the focal field; and
the various focal lengths are at least partially provided by various supports for means for focusing. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification