Integrated Polarizing Optical Fiber Collimator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical systems using polarization diversity schemes are complex and cumbersome due to distinct optical and fiber-optic components, leading to high costs, bulkiness, and vulnerability to environmental exposure, with polarization maintaining fibers being difficult to manufacture and fragile.
Innovation Solution
An integrated optical collimator device that combines fiber-optic delivery, collimation, polarization, analysis, and selection into a single, compact unit, incorporating a polarizer element within the collimator to reduce size, weight, and cost, and enhance robustness against environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distinct optical components and polarization components are used separately, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the system becomes complex, bulky, and expensive with multiple separate components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical collimator and polarizer into a single integrated device where the polarizer is positioned within the collimator housing, eliminating the need for separate optical components and reducing system complexity while maintaining functional optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions simultaneously - collimation and polarization control in one unit - allowing a single component to serve multiple purposes that previously required separate optimized components
2Ease of manufacture
If distinct optical components are used, then each component can be independently manufactured, but the packaging footprint and size become large and unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The polarizer is nested within the collimator housing, with the polarizer element positioned inside the collimator structure, thereby minimizing the overall volume and packaging footprint while still allowing independent manufacturing of the sub-components
3Ease of operation
If separate optical elements are used, then each element can be independently aligned, but the system becomes vulnerable to environmental exposure and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the polarizer within the collimator housing with a shared optical axis, the system reduces the number of independent alignments required and minimizes vulnerability to environmental misalignment while maintaining ease of initial setup
4Reliability
If polarization maintaining fiber is used, then polarization control is improved, but the fiber becomes difficult to manufacture, fragile, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the polarization control function from the fiber itself and implements it through a separate polarizer element integrated into the collimator, thereby eliminating the need for complex and fragile polarization-maintaining fiber while achieving reliable polarization control
Solution Approach 2:
The solution replaces expensive and fragile polarization-maintaining fiber with a simpler, more robust integrated polarizer-collimator device that achieves the same polarization control function at lower cost and with improved durability
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 integrated device miniaturizes optical systems, reduces misalignments and environmental degradation, and provides a robust, hermetically sealed solution for demanding applications, while maintaining efficient polarization control.
Implementation Method 1
The light is then incident onto a lens, which converges or collimates the beam with a lower divergence angle
Implementation Method 2
many systems or components utilize polarizers where it is important to control or analyze the direction and intensity of polarized light
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5B
AI summary
An integrated optical collimator device includes an optical fiber extending from a first end to a second end. The first end of the optical fiber is configured to be coupled to a light source or a light receiver. A housing is coupled to the ferrule and extends radially over the ferrule. A collimating lens is positioned in the housing proximate the second end of the optical fiber. A polarizer element is positioned within the housing proximate the collimating lens.