Glass Coupler with Converging Member for Optical Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical coupling between components with different numerical apertures and misaligned facets results in significant efficiency losses in data communication and sensing applications, making existing solutions inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
An optical coupling element with a glass coupler body featuring a converging member and a coupling waveguide that reduces beam divergence and compensates for misalignments, allowing efficient coupling between optical components with varying numerical apertures and facet properties, manufactured using direct laser writing for high precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If optical components with different numerical apertures are coupled directly, then the coupling process is simple, but significant coupling losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical coupling element as an intermediary component between the first optical component (with higher numerical aperture) and the second optical component (with lower numerical aperture). This coupling element includes a lens and waveguide structure that acts as a mediator to match the different numerical apertures, thereby reducing coupling losses while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters (numerical aperture and beam shape) through the optical coupling element. The lens component focuses or expands the beam to adjust its numerical aperture, and the waveguide structure modifies the beam shape and size. These parameter changes enable efficient coupling between components with different original numerical apertures.
2Loss of energy
If active alignment is used to improve coupling efficiency, then coupling efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical coupling element is designed with inherent features (such as asymmetric waveguide structures or pre-formed lens geometries) that automatically compensate for misalignments between optical components. The coupling element self-adjusts to optimize light transmission without requiring external active alignment mechanisms, thereby maintaining high coupling efficiency while reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical coupling element is pre-designed and pre-manufactured with specific geometric features that anticipate and compensate for potential misalignments. The waveguide and lens structures are optimized in advance to handle typical alignment tolerances, eliminating the need for complex active alignment procedures during assembly while ensuring efficient light coupling.
3Loss of energy
If stricter alignment accuracy requirements are imposed, then coupling efficiency improves, but manufacturing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical coupling element incorporates design features that provide a cushion against alignment errors. The waveguide structure and lens geometry are engineered to tolerate certain misalignment ranges while maintaining acceptable coupling efficiency. This beforehand cushioning allows for faster manufacturing with relaxed alignment requirements while still achieving the desired coupling performance.
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 enables high-efficiency optical coupling with reduced losses, eliminating the need for active alignment and enhancing manufacturing efficiency by matching numerical apertures and adjusting beam shapes, thereby improving data communication and sensing applications.
Implementation Method 1
a converging member configured to reduce, in accordance with converging characteristics, divergence of light entering the glass coupler body via the receiving side surface
Implementation Method 2
a coupling waveguide extending within the glass coupler body between the converging member and an output facet on the transmitting side surface and being configured to transmit light from the converging member to the output facet
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coupling element is configured to be positioned between and optically couple a first optical component configured to transmit a light beam, and a second optical component configured to receive light. The optical coupling element comprises a glass coupler body having a receiving side surface and an opposite transmitting side surface. The glass coupler body comprises a converging member configured to reduce divergence of light entering the glass coupler body via the receiving side surface; and a coupling waveguide extending within the glass coupler body between the converging member and an output facet on the transmitting side surface and being configured to transmit light from the converging member to the output facet.