Optical fiber connector with achromatic grin lens

摘要

An optical fiber connector for coupling light to or from an input fiber is disclosed. The connector includes a first alignment member that holds an achromatic GRIN lens. The achromatic GRIN lens has a half-pitch axial length L, wherein 0.5 mm≦L≦5 mm. The optical fiber connector has a field fiber that interfaces with the achromatic GRIN lens. The connector is operable between operating wavelengths of 800 nm and 1600 nm with a coupling loss of less than 0.2 dB.

主权项

1. An optical fiber connector for coupling light to or from an input fiber over a range of operating wavelengths between first and second operating wavelengths, comprising:
a first alignment member; a gradient-index (GRIN) lens held by the alignment member, the GRIN lens having a front end, a back end, and an axial length L that is substantially equal to P/2, where P is a length over which the light with the range of operating wavelengths traverses one period of a sinusoidal path through the GRIN lens, and wherein 0.5 mm≦L≦5 mm; a field fiber that interfaces with the back end of the GRIN lens to define a first interface, wherein the GRIN lens and the field fiber define a coupling loss CL between the input fiber and the field fiber, and wherein the coupling loss CL<0.2 dB over the range of wavelengths; a splice member within or proximate the first alignment member, the splice member configured to operably align the GRIN lens and the field fiber at the first interface; and wherein the first operating wavelength is 800 nm and the second operating wavelength is 1600 nm.