Abstract: An optical fiber laser device, used as a pulse laser device, has a spherical lens made of optical glass having a refractive index of 2 or less. The spherical lens is provided on an extreme end of an optical fiber which guides a pulse laser beam. An object side of the spherical lens is projected externally of a base housing the spherical lens therein.

Abstract: Optical fiber devices for medical purposes and a method of making optical fiber devices. In one embodiment particularly suitable for laser surgery an optical fiber device is provided which includes an capsule which secures a lens element adjacent to an end of an optical fiber. The capsule includes fluid passageways which extend along the length thereof through which a temperature controlled fluid may be caused to flow. In another embodiment particularly suitable for providing a wide area of illumination an optical fiber device is provided which includes a main optical fiber element and a plurality of auxiliary optical fiber elements which are optically coupled thereto. The auxiliary optical fiber elements have terminal ends which project light that is transmitted through the main optical fiber.

Abstract: A device, which provides a high positioning precision and good coupling efficiency for producing an optical coupling between a plurality of first optical waveguides having one spot diameter and a plurality of second optical waveguides having a different spot diameter, comprises optical lenses and a plate arranged between the end faces of the first and second waveguides lying opposite to one another, the plate has one flat surface facing toward the first waveguides and a second flat surface facing toward the second waveguides, the plate having an arrangement for positioning an optical lens between each pair of waveguides. The optical lenses may be planar lenses formed on a flat surface of the plate or may be spherical lenses held in conical depressions on one of the surfaces of the plate. In one embodiment, the plate has depressions on both sides, which may receive spherical lenses.

Abstract: The tip of a first optical fiber 8 is fused integrally to a second optical fiber 7, having a single refractive index and an identical outer diameter, which has a spherical lens 10 with the length and diameter to produce a beam expansion by Gaussian diffusion to at least 80 .mu.m or greater at the exit and a radius of curvature greater than 200 .mu.m. The spherical part of the second fiber is formed by thermal fusion; a spherical lens having the desired diameter at the optical fiber tip is formed by feeding the optical fiber tip into a thermal fusion unit to form the spherical lens. An optical fiber terminal for optical coupling composed of a single mode optical fiber, a non-doped silica fiber beam expansion segment, and a non-doped silica spherical lens, is connected to a polarization-independent optical isolator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a duplicated light source module constructed so that rays of light emitted from two light sources pass through one lens and then enter one optical fiber through a birefringent element. This module is useful when a light source in an optical transmitter is intended to be duplicated or when a high-power pumping source in an optical fiber amplifier is required.

Abstract: An aplanatic microlens consisting of a sphere which is less than one millimeters in diameter. The sphere is made of a transparent material and has a plane surface ground into it so that the radial distance from the center of the sphere to the nearest point on the plane surface is equal to the radius of the sphere divided by the ratio of the index of refraction of the transparent material and the index of refraction of the medium which will surround the lens in use.

Abstract: A spherical multicomponent optical isolator having a first spherical segment lensing region, including a base, a second spherical segment lensing region, including a base, a first polarizer attached to the base of the first segment lensing region, a second polarizer attached to the base of the second spherical segment lensing region and A Faraday rotator disposed between the first and second polarizers, wherein the combination of the first and second spherical segments, the first and second polarizers and the Faraday rotator forms the spherical optical isolator having a spherical outer surface.

Abstract: Precise axial alignment of fibers to be connected is achieved with a male-to-male arrangement consisting of substantially identical fiber-receiving substrates and a coupler element which takes several configurations. A lensing element such as a ball/sphere is positioned in a well placed directly beyond a precision V-groove formed on a substrate surface, so that the fiber axes extend through substantially the center of the lensing element and are coaxial. The coupler contains a fiber-aligning V-groove and reference surface zones that interact in various ways with two ball-alignment elements of the substrates, to maintain critical substrate surfaces parallel to and precisely spaced from the coupler's reference surfaces.

Abstract: A device for optically connecting an optical element, for example an end portion of an optical fibre (2), with a spherical lens (4), comprises a retainer (6) and a connector element (14). The retainer (6) fixes the optical element in a predeterment position in relation to an outer reference surface (8) of the retainer. The connector element (14) has at least one surface (18) for determining the position of the spherical lens (4) and at least one surface (16) for determining the position of the retainer (6) in relation to the spherical lens (4) and thereby for defining the relative position between the optical element (2) and the spherical lens (4). The surface (18) for determining the position of the spherical lens (4) is constituted by a conical surface (18) tapering in the direction of the optical element (2).

Abstract: An opto-electronic interconnect is disclosed that provides for optical communication between chip devices. Optical signals, transmitted from one of the edges of a first chip device, are directed by a lens focusing apparatus to the edge of a second chip device, whereupon the signal is detected. The optical ports for transmission or reception of the optical signals are grouped into an optical segment, which may have either a semi-circular or planar geometry.

Abstract: An optical fiber feedthrough (20,24) for passing through a panel (10) and maintaining a sealed relationship between different fluid environments existing on opposite sides of the panel. A guide tube (25) secured within an opening (44) in the panel (10) by a glass seal (46). The end portions of two fibers (16, 18) to be interconnected through the panel are secured within individual termini (28,42) with the latter located within the guide tube (25) and sealed by O-rings (50,56) against fluid passage therethrough.

Abstract: A package receives and encapsulates an optoelectronic integrated circuit chip. A plurality of optically transmissive filaments have first ends coupled with the chip and second ends opposite the first ends positioned outside the package. In a preferred embodiment, the first ends are flamed off to form spherical lenses, which are then used to contact optically active devices on the integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising a plurality of semiconductor packaging substrates arranged parallel to one another, a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits mounted on each of the semiconductor packaging substrates, a circuit for electrically connecting the semiconductor integrated circuits, an optical signal transmitting circuit, electrically connected to the semiconductor integrated circuits, for converting an electric signal input by the semiconductor integrated circuits to an optical signal and outputting it to another semiconductor packaging substrate, and an optical signal receiving circuit, electrically connected to the semiconductor integrated circuits, for receiving the optical signal output from the semiconductor packaging substrate, converting the optical signal to an electric signal, and outputting the electric signal to the semiconductor integrated circuits.

Abstract: A submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for PDT treatment includes an optical fiber, a fiber jacket, a ball lens made of zirconia and a housing. This fiberoptic assembly is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and has a high quality of output light beam. A submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for PDT treatments is also disclosed which uses a hemisphere ball lens for treatment of areas inaccessible to a normal "forward looking" lens.

Abstract: A laser (15) is mounted on a planar surface of a monocrystalline silicon mounting member (12). A spherical lens (20) is mounted in a monocrystalline silicon cover member (13) which, when abutted and registered to the mounting member (12), aligns the spherical lens with the laser so that the output light can be projected along a precise predetermined path. The spherical lens (20) is mounted in a first V-shaped groove (31) which is made in the cover member by masking and etching. A second V-shaped groove intersects the first groove and defines a V-shaped edge in one side of the first groove. The spherical lens is then seated in the first V-shaped groove such that it bears against two points of the V-shaped edge and against one side wall (35) of the first V-shaped groove. A second lens (19) is mounted in the cover member in the same manner as the first lens and directs laser light from a rear facet of the laser to a mirror 30 and hence to a photodetector (21) mounted in the cover member.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for optically sensing and measuring physical quantities such as magnetic fields, electrical fields, mechanical strain, temperature, sound and pressure. The apparatus aspects of the invention involve a sensor structure consisting of a sandwich of magnetostrictive, piezoelectric or other materials sensitive to the physical quantity measured which are spaced apart by two opposed parallel reflecting surfaces located on opposing sides of the sensitive material. The reflecting surfaces can include an array of plane mirrors, diffraction gratings, curved mirrors, or retro-reflecting spheres. In its method aspects, multiple optical reflections between the two surfaces provide a magnified optical phase shift when the shape of the slab that is sensitive to changes in the applied field causes mechanical strains in the material. The changed optical signal can be measured by a suitable measurement device such as an interferometer for phase comparison with a diffraction reference pattern.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical device including an optical active device mounted on a frame and integrated by a transparent resin molding as mounted on the frame, the optical device comprising two or more lenses buried in the resin molding facing to the active surface of the optical active device and having an optical axis which coincides with an optical axis of an incident or emitting light of the optical active device.

Abstract: A method for forming a lens at an end portion of an optical apparatus, such as an optical fiber assembly, a fiber optical CRT or an LED array, which method comprises a dipping step wherein the end portion of the optical apparatus is dipped into an unsolidified photo-setting resin and a lighting step wherein the photo-setting resin is solidified according to an intensity distribution of the light outputted from the optical apparatus. Further, an optical information processing apparatus and an optical signal transmission apparatus have a lens array formed by the above method.

Abstract: A fiberoptic wide-angle illuminating device includes a fiberoptic cable providing a bundle of optical fibers for conducting light, a yoke having a C-shaped head receiving and supporting output ends of the optical fibers arranged in a splayed-out fashion in a row and defining a single elongated aperture aligned with the output ends of the optical fibers for receiving and passing light emitted from the optical fibers, and a single wide-angle optical lens which is preferably spherical or cylindrical aligned in a predetermined relationship with the single aperture for receiving light emitted from the optical fibers through the aperture and for projecting the light in a desired beam pattern. The single aperture has a configuration of an arc such that the lens projects the light in an arcuate beam pattern.

Abstract: An image transmitting element is disclosed, which comprises: a transparent substrate; photo-transmissible holes one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally formed as an array in the substrate, each of the holes having a substantially cylindrical side surface and at least two substantially semi-spherical surfaces; a photo-absorptive surface formed on at least a part of the cylindrical side surface of the photo-transmissible holes; and a transparent material with which the photo-transmissible holes are filled, the transparent material having a refractive index higher than that of the substrate.

Abstract: A structure for optical interconnection is disclosed along with methods of manufacture and operation. In one embodiment, the structure consists of optical fibers connected to an array of microlenses, either through integrated waveguides or not, that direct light onto a mirror formed in a substrate, which reflects light to a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator in turn reflects the light back to another mirror, which reflects the light through another microlens array, through integrated waveguides or not, and out another optical fiber. The structure is manufactured by forming the mirrors out of the substrate, forming waveguides if desired, forming troughs for the fibers and the microlenses, attaching external pieces such as the fibers, the lenses, and the spatial light modulator package, and packaging the device to maintain alignment.

Abstract: A lens combination set in front of an optical fiber terminal head of an optical fiber fine displacement detecting system to focus a real image of the optical fiber terminal head so as to extend the mounting range of the head relative to the object in detection and avoid any possible damage due to collision of the object with the head. The lens combination focuses the light rays from the optical fiber terminal head to form a real image outside the lens combination. The reflected light rays from the object mounted around the real image are focused by the lens combination and sent back to the detecting system through the optical fiber terminal head. Therefore, sufficient safety range is obtained between the lens combination and the object in detection without affecting the normal operation of the detecting system.

Abstract: In a device for injecting the light energy of a laser beam into a multimode fibre-optic optical waveguide (2) a small part of the light emerging from the end face of the optical waveguide (2) is projected through a beam splitting cube (7) and a reproducing lens (21) onto a display screen (1), so that an image (24) of the end face of the optical waveguide (2) can be observed on the display screen (1). The arrangement is such that the system is correctly focused only when the distance between the optical waveguide (2) and a focusing point of the laser beam (12) reaches an intended value. The light spot of the laser beam on the end face of the optical waveguide (2) is clearly visible on the display screen (1) so than an optimum positioning and adjustment can be readily effected.

Abstract: A broadband optical source with a flat spectral output and high output power for use in a fiber optic sensor interface system. The broadband optical source comprises N optical sources such as LEDs, where N is a positive integer greater than 1. The N optical sources output a plurality of optical signals having center wavelengths .lambda.i, spectral widths .DELTA..lambda.i and powers Pi, where i is a positive integer corresponding to each of the N optical sources. The broadband LED source also comprises a waveguide coupler for receiving and combining said plurality of optical signals and for outputting a broadband optical signal. The broadband LED source outputs extremely spectrally flat, broadband signals when the center wavelengths .lambda.i are separated by approximately 2/3 of the spectral widths .DELTA..lambda.i.

Abstract: A method of making an opto-electronic component (13) comprises inserting a pre-assembled device carrier (1) into a mould, filling the mould (2) with light and/or thermally curable material, optically aligning the device assembly and, on achieving optical alignment, at least partially curing the material.

Abstract: Two sets of optical fiber ends to be connected are contained in opposing v-grooves in the respective interiors of a first (left) and a second (right) mating housings. In the unengaged position, the housing accesses are closed to protect the fibers. In the engaged position, the two housings form a protective enclosure. Each housing include mechanisms which are actuated by surface features of the other housing during mating engagement, to open the access doors to the housing interiors. Each fiber groove contains a fixed alignment ball whose center is on the fiber core axis. In the left housing, the v-groove in which the fiber and ball are contained, is formed on the underside of a pivotally mounted finger. When not engaged to the right housing, the finger is held in a retracted position. As the two housings engage, an actuator slidably mounted in the left housing is moved inwardly by contact with the right housing.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed optical fiber lens arrangement, particularly for optoelectronic modules, includes an optical fiber which extends through a metal tubule and is fastened therein. The metal tubule is attached through a flange at an aperture in a wall of a module housing, and includes a spherical lens fastened in the module housing. The metal tubule supporting the optical fiber is adjusted in the flange by axially displacing it a preset focal distance from the spherical lens, and is fastened in the flange. The spherical lens mounting takes the form of a metal tubule and is adjusted at the frontal side of the flange adjacent to the housing by transverse displacement and fastened, so as to achieve optimum alignment of the optical axes of said arrangement, and the flange is hermetically sealed directly or through an annular projection of the spherical lens mounting to the modular housing wall.

Abstract: An optical coupling element having a convex, refractive microlens is characterized by a ball having a flat, planar surface being mounted in a through-hole of a carrier lamina with the flat, planar surface extending parallel to a planar surface of the lamina. The coupling element is preferably made by a method which involves forming a through-hole in a lamina, mounting a ball in the through-hole, processing a surface of the ball to form the planar surface that extends parallel to a surface of the lamina. Preferably, a plurality of coupling elements are formed by providing a plurality of through-holes in an enlarged carrier and after processing, each individual coupling element is then separated from this enlarged carrier.

Abstract: An arrangement for optically coupling an electro-optical transducer module to a light waveguide uses two lenses wherein the first lens is arranged in front of the electro-optical transducer module axially offset relative to the axis of the transducer module and a second lens is arranged in front of the light waveguide axially offset relative to the optical axis thereof. The optical axes of the two lenses are also axially offset relative to one another so that disturbing back-reflections are drastically reduced without diminishing the coupling efficiency of the arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed whereby channel waveguides are formed to have substantially circular cross-section shapes to more closely match the circular cross-section shape of a typical optical fiber. Rectangular cross-section channel waveguides are heated to create surface tension between the core and cladding layers resulting in the rectangular shape changing to a substantially circular shape. An over cladding layer may be added to the circular cross-section waveguide. A method is also disclosed whereby monolithic lenses may be formed from the same circular cross-section waveguides on a common substrate, simultaneously, to provide substantially perfectly aligned lenses and waveguides that are not prone to alignment and bonding problems of discrete lenses.

Abstract: A ferrule having an optical fiber connected thereto and a spherical lens are fixed in a cylindrical lens holder to form a fiber collimator. The thickness of a cylindrical wall of the lens holder is made smaller at a spherical lens receiving portion than the other portion and the cylindrical lens holder is fixed to a substrate by welding. A pair of such fiber collimators are provided in an opposing relationship to each other on the substrate, and an optical function element is disposed between the opposing fiber collimators to form an optical device. By provision of a light path changing over mechanism as such optical function element, an optical switch of a small size having a high performance can be provided.