GRADIENT-INDEX (GRIN) LENS FABRICATION EMPLOYING LASER PULSE WIDTH DURATION CONTROL, AND RELATED COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

• Main Authors: BERG DAVID MATTHEW, DEMERITT JEFFERY ALAN, WAGNER ROBERT STEPHEN, DANLEY JEFFREY DEAN, WATKINS JAMES JOSEPH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2014
• Subjects: CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TRANSPORTING; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

Gradient-index (GRIN) lens fabrication employing laser pulse width duration control, and related components, systems, and methods are disclosed. GRIN lenses can be fabricated from GRIN rods by controlling the pulse width emission duration of a laser beam emitted by a laser to laser cut the GRIN rod, as the GRIN rod is disposed in rotational relation to the laser beam. Controlling laser pulse width emission duration can prevent or reduce heat accumulation in the GRIN rod during GRIN lens fabrication. It is desired that the end faces of GRIN lenses are planar to facilitate light collimation, easy bonding or fusing of the GRIN lens to optical fibers to reduce optical losses, polishing to avoid spherical aberrations, and/or cleaning the end faces when disposed in a fiber optic connector, as non-limiting examples.