Method for Producing an Optical Fibre in a Polymer

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention describes a method for producing optical fibers, especially single-mode fibers, within a polymer material, by precisely focusing and intersecting two laser beams at controlled points inside the polymer. The resulting interaction alters the refractive index of the polymer along a desired path, enabling the formation of embedded waveguides, couplers, and tapers inside the polymer. The process can dynamically adjust laser parameters to optimize fiber shape and connection interfaces, allowing for complex three-dimensional layouts and efficient integration with optical and optoelectronic components.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Manufacturing single-mode and multi-mode optical fibers directly inside polymer substrates.
• Producing optical couplers between fibers and photonic chips for integrated photonic circuits.
• Creating efficient optical interconnects between opto-electronic devices, such as between VCSELs and waveguides or between chips in optical data links.
• Fabricating tapers and transitions between single-mode and multi-mode fibers (e.g., SMF-28 to OM-4), improving compatibility and performance in optical networks.
• Manufacturing compact, multi-channel optical splitters or couplers embedded within polymer connectors (such as MT connectors).
• Locally adjusting fiber cross-sections to ease alignment tolerances, reducing assembly cost for photonic devices.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables direct, precise fabrication of optical waveguides and couplers inside transparent polymers, reducing the need for separate fiber components.
• Supports three-dimensional routing of waveguides, allowing for flexible and space-saving photonic designs.
• Dynamic adjustment of laser parameters during writing allows for optimized fiber geometries, lower loss, and efficient connections to optical components.
• Reduces alignment and assembly complexities, lowering manufacturing costs for optical modules and interconnects.
• Enables high-speed, cost-effective production of photonic integrated circuits and connectors suitable for modern data communication standards (e.g., 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s Ethernet).
• Facilitates the creation of tailor-made optical structures (splitters, multiplexers, demultiplexers) within a single fabrication step.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an optical fibre, in particular a single-mode optical fibre, in a polymer (10), wherein a first laser beam (1) of a first wavelength is focussed in the polymer at a focussing point, wherein a second laser beam (2), in particular of the first wavelength, is focussed in the polymer at the focussing point and intersects the first laser beam, such that the refractive index of the polymer is changed or increased in a region around the focussing point, and wherein the focussing point moves through the polymer along a trajectory, and wherein advantageously the cross section of the first laser beam and/or the cross section of the second laser beam (in particular at the focussing point or in the region of the focussing point) is changed as the focussing point moves.