Cylindrical microlens with an internally reflecting surface and a method of fabrication

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 6,948,341
App. No.: 10/741,047
Granted: Sep 27, 2005
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A fast (high numerical aperture) cylindrical microlens, which includes an internally reflective surface, that functions to deviate the direction of the light that enters the lens from its original propagation direction is employed in optically conditioning laser diodes, laser diode arrays and laser diode bars.

Claims (24)

1. A method of forming a micro-lens having an internal reflecting surface, comprising:

forming a preform having the shape of a cylindrical lens wherein said lens further comprises: 1) an input refracting surface, 2) at least one internally reflecting surface adapted to substantially totally internally reflect refracted radiation from said input refracting surface with unity efficiency, and 3) an output refracting surface; and

drawing said preform to form a cylindrical lens having a cross-sectional shape of said preform, wherein said cross-sectional shape dimensions are reduced below the cross-sectional shape dimensions of said preform.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lens is fabricated using a shaped fiber pulling technology.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said perform is ground using conventional optical grinding technology to produce a predetermined shape of said lens.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said input refracting surface is flat and adapted to be at an incident angle in relation to a predetermined light source and wherein emission from said light source is substantially refracted.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said input refracting surface is curved and adapted to be at an incident angle in relation to a predetermined light source and wherein said emission from said light source is substantially refracted.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said internally reflecting surface is flat.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said internally reflecting surface is curved.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said output refracting surface is curved.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said output refracting surface is adapted to optically condition a divergence angle from a fast axis from a predetermined light source so that emission from said light source directed by said output refracting surface comprise optical rays which are substantially parallel along said fast axis.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said output refracting surface is formed to comprise the shape of a convex curvature.

11. A method of forming a micro-lens having an internal reflecting surface, comprising:

forming a preform having a shape of a cylindrical lens, wherein said lens further comprises: 1) a first surface adapted for refracting an emission from a predetermined light source oriented at a first angle, 2) at least one second surface adapted to receive said refracting emission from said first surface, wherein said second surface further comprises an internal surface adapted to substantially totally internally reflect said refracted emission from said first surface with unity efficiency and wherein a designed angle for substantially all of said refracted emission received by said second surface is greater than a critical angle necessary for total internal reflection, and 3) a third surface adapted to receive and direct said totally internally reflected emission external to said third surface, wherein said directed emission by said third surface further comprise optical rays which are substantially parallel and are deviated at a second angle with respect to an initial propagation direction from said light source; and

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said lens is fabricated using a shaped fiber pulling technology.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said perform is ground using conventional optical grinding technology to produce a predetermined shape of said lens.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said first surface is flat and adapted to be at an incident angle in relation to a predetermined light source and wherein emission from said light source is substantially refracted.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said first surface is curved and adapted to be at an incident angle in relation to a predetermined light source and wherein said emission from said light source is substantially refracted.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said at least one second surface is flat.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein said at least one second surface is curved.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein said third surface is curved.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein said third surface is adapted to optically condition a divergence angle from a fast axis from a predetermined light source so that emission from said light source directed by said third surface comprise optical rays which are substantially parallel along said fast axis.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein said third surface is formed to comprise the shape of a convex curvature.