METHOD FOR MOUNTING MICROSPHERE COUPLING LENSES ON OPTICAL FIBERS

摘要

446 METHOD FOR MOUNTING MICROSPHERE COUPLING LENSES ON OPTICAL FIBERS A microsphere bead coupling lens can be mounted onto an end of an optical fiber after the end is initially prepared by cleaning and cleavage. An adhesive is first applied to the cleaved end. The applied adhesive end of the optical fiber is then approximately centered over a microsphere bead to be mounted. The fiber is lowered until the adhesive on the end contacts the bead. The fiber is then raised whereby the adhesive on the end holds onto the bead by surface tension so that the bead gets picked up as the fiber is raised; and, due to the combination of surface tension and gravity, the bead lens is moved by the adhesive until the lens is aligned with, or very close to, the central axis of the fiber. Subsequently, the adhesive on the fiber end is cured by means such as ultraviolet-curing or heat-curing.