公开(公告)号：US20230098658A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-30

申请号：US17913754

申请日：2021-03-23

Applicant: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Inventor： Jan WATTÉ ,  Vivek PANAPAKKAM VENKATESAN ,  Saurav KUMAR ,  Koen VANMOL ,  Jürgen Albert Jan VAN ERPS ,  Hugo THIENPONT

IPC: G02B6/26 ,  G02B6/30

Abstract: Optical guiding elements are 3D printed on the ends of optical fibers. A multifiber connector includes fibers having 3D printed elements that are flush with the end face of the connector. The printed 3D element may be down-tapered for coupling between a single mode optical fiber and an optical chip waveguide. The cross-sectional shape of the 3D printed optical element may change along its length so as to more closely match to the mode field of a non-circular waveguide on the optical chip. The optical element may be printed with a gradient index. The optical element may be provided with an output face distal from the optical fiber that is not flat and which changes the divergence of the light passing therethrough.

公开(公告)号：US20210088728A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-25

申请号：US16975087

申请日：2019-02-22

Applicant: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Inventor： Jan WATTÉ ,  Salvatore TUCCIO ,  Vivek PANAPAKKAM VENKATESAN ,  Koen VANMOL ,  Jürgen Albert Jan VAN ERPS ,  Hugo THIENPONT ,  Yolanda Justo ZARRAQUINOS ,  Roland Simon H. CLAES ,  Saurav KUMAR

IPC: G02B6/24 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B29D11/00

Abstract: A tapered core structure is written on the end of an optical fiber using a 3D-printing process. The tapered core may expand the mode diameter for improved coupling between fibers or may reduce the mode diameter to enhance coupling to a waveguide smaller than the fiber core. The written core is surrounded by a cladding. The diameter of the core is varied while it is being written, allowing a wide range of taper profiles to be implemented. The 3D-printing process is readily adapted to permit multiple fibers to have tapered cores written on their ends during the same process cycle.