Protecting an optical surface

摘要

According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving a light beam at an anti-reflective layer of optically transmissive material. The anti-reflective layer has an outer surface disposed within a recess of a protective layer of optically transmissive material, such that the outer surface is protected by the recess and the protective layer from being contacted. The outer surface is further disposed along an optical path of an optical device disposed inwardly from the outer surface. The anti-reflective layer has an average cross-sectional thickness that is less than an average cross-sectional thickness of the protective layer. The method further includes modulating the light beam using the anti-reflective layer.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of optical devices coupled to a substrate; a protective layer having a plurality of recesses disposed therein, each recess disposed outwardly from a respective one of the plurality of optical devices coupled to the substrate and within an optical path of the respective one of the plurality of optical devices coupled to the substrate; and an anti-reflective layer disposed within each of the plurality of recesses of the protective layer, the anti-reflective layer configured to receive a light beam impinging thereon, minimize reflection of the light beam, modify a characteristic of the received light beam, and transmit a modified light beam.