90-Degree-Cleaved Lensed Optical Fiber With Integrated Concave Mirror

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lensed optical fibers for optical coupling to optoelectronic components are complex and expensive to manufacture, leading to optical beam divergence, alignment issues, and increased signal loss due to the use of GRIN lenses and 45° bevels, which complicate positioning and increase production costs.

Innovation Solution

A unitary lensed optical fiber with a concave mirror integrated on the far end, formed by photopolymerization, allowing direct reflection and focusing of optical beams without additional deformation, and projections for passive axial positioning, simplifying alignment and reducing signal loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a GRIN lens and 45° bevel are used in the lensed optical fiber, then optical beam collimation is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical beam collimationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the GRIN lens and the 45° bevel into a single integrated optical element formed by photopolymerization. This merging eliminates the need for separate manufacturing steps and assembly operations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the optical beam collimation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses photopolymerization to create a composite optical element that integrates multiple functional features (lens curvature, bevel angle, and reflective surface) into a single material structure. This composite approach simplifies manufacturing by eliminating the need to assemble separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If a GRIN lens and 45° bevel are used in the lensed optical fiber, then optical beam collimation is achieved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical beam collimationVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The photopolymerization process automatically forms the precise 45° bevel angle and lens curvature in a single step, eliminating the need for separate machining or polishing operations. This self-service capability significantly reduces production cost while maintaining high manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a 45° bevel is used in the lensed optical fiber, then optical coupling is enabled, but alignment precision deteriorates due to elliptical core intersection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical couplingVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a 45° bevel angle that creates a specific asymmetric geometry for optical coupling. This asymmetric design enables effective optical coupling while the photopolymerization process ensures precise positioning of the optical core relative to the bevel surface, maintaining alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If multiple separate optical elements are used in the lensed optical fiber, then optical functions are achieved, but signal loss increases due to additional interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical functionVSAvoidsignal loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple optical elements (GRIN lens, bevel, and reflective surface) into a single integrated photopolymerized structure. This eliminates intermediate interfaces between components, thereby reducing signal loss while maintaining all necessary optical functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides precise optical beam focusing, reduces signal loss, and lowers manufacturing complexity and cost by integrating a reflective concave mirror directly on the optical fiber, enabling efficient optical coupling with optoelectronic components.

Implementation Method 1

an optical lens, arranged at the far end of the fiber and the external surface of which is delineated at least by a concave segment and a plane segment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

a mirror conforming to at least part of the concave segment of the main lens, the mirror being at least partly reflective in at least one given wavelength range, such that at least some of an optical beam coming from the fiber and passing through the main lens is reflected by the mirror

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

forming a lensed optical fiber by photopolymerization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS20250298197A1Lensed optical fiber comprising an optical fiber at the distal end cleaved at 90 degrees and fused with a lens on the external surface of which a concave mirror is formed

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 RADIALL SA

AI summary

A lensed optical fiber including an optical fiber cleaved at the far end at 90° and fused with a lens on the external surface of which is formed a concave mirror. A lensed optical fiber including an optical lens, preferably end-fused to an optical fiber cut at right angles, and the shape of which, and in particular of its external surface, which shape is perfectly controlled, allows a catadioptric optical system or concave mirror with a steering angle to be produced in order to adapt and optimize optical flows entering or exiting between an optical fiber and an optoelectronic component, in transmission or reception.