Integrated Lens with Vortex Profile for DMD Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased demand for high-speed data communication in data centers using multimode fibers is hindered by differential modal dispersion (DMD), which degrades optical waveforms, and the use of vortex phase plates complicates light axis adjustment in optical systems.
Innovation Solution
An optical component with a substrate featuring a lens and a vortex profile on its surface, which transforms incident light into a ring-shaped distribution, reducing DMD and simplifying light axis alignment by integrating the vortex profile onto the lens, thereby reducing the number of components that need to be aligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vortex phase plate is provided between the light source and multimode fiber to generate optical vortex and reduce DMD, then the occurrence of DMD is inhibited and optical transmission performance is improved, but the number of optical components increases and light axis adjustment becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vortex phase plate and lens into a single integrated optical component. The lens is formed on the substrate and the vortex profile is formed on the surface of the lens, merging two previously separate components (vortex phase plate and lens) into one unified structure. This integration maintains the DMD-reducing functionality while simplifying the optical system and reducing the number of components requiring alignment.
2Reliability
If a vortex phase plate is provided between the light source and multimode fiber to generate optical vortex, then light can be transformed into ring-shaped distribution to avoid central core instability, but light axis adjustment becomes more difficult especially in array-type optical systems
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex phase plate and lens are merged into a single integrated component where the vortex profile is formed on the surface of the lens. This integration ensures that the light axis is automatically aligned between the focusing function and the vortex generation function, eliminating the need for separate light axis adjustments that would be required with separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated optical component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it focuses the light (lens function) and generates the optical vortex with ring-shaped intensity distribution (vortex phase plate function). This multi-functionality in a single component simplifies the optical system while maintaining both the focusing capability and the DMD-reducing vortex generation capability.
3Reliability
If separate vortex phase plate and lens are used to transform light into ring-shaped distribution, then DMD is reduced, but the number of components requiring light axis alignment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the vortex phase plate and lens into one component with the vortex profile formed on the lens surface. This merging eliminates the need for separate alignment of two independent components, reducing the alignment complexity from adjusting two separate light axes to adjusting a single integrated component.
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
This solution effectively inhibits DMD and improves optical transmission performance by simplifying light axis adjustment, especially in array-type optical systems, by transforming light into a ring-shaped distribution that avoids the central core of the multimode fiber, thus enhancing the ease of alignment and reducing the complexity of light axis adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a lens formed on a first principal surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 2
a vortex profile formed on a surface of the lens
Data Source
AI summary
An optical component includes: a substrate; a lens formed on a first principal surface of the substrate; and a vortex profile formed on a surface of the lens.