METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING MICROLENSES ON OPTICAL FIBERS

摘要

This invention concerns with a process and apparatus for fabricating microlenses on optical fibers. A pulsed laser beam and an end portion of a fiber are arranged relative each to another so that the laser beam is incident on the end portion of the fiber at an acute angle .theta. to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. The angle is selected to attain a desired curvature of a lens formed by ablation and heating of the end portion of the fiber by the laser beam. A movement of the fiber and the laser relative each to another results in progressive engagement of the end portion of the fiber with the laser for a preselected distance so as to produce a short taper with a lens at the end thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the fiber rotated about its axis within a passage of the holder which moves the end-portion of the fiber into and through the laser beam resulting in the said lens. The precise repeatability of the lens formation may be controlled by a computer.