A novel method to couple light into an optical fiber avoiding fiber optic connectors

Luca Maggi; Giovanni Delrosso

doi:10.1117/12.781305

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14 May 2008 A novel method to couple light into an optical fiber avoiding fiber optic connectors

Luca Maggi, Giovanni Delrosso

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Proceedings Volume 6992, Micro-Optics 2008; 699218 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.781305
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2008, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

We present a new method for realizing optical connections to multi mode fiber, which eliminates the need for standard connectors. With such a device the fiber termination can be avoided, so that dramatically reducing the cost of installation of an optical network. Moreover the optical connection can be carry out by not specialized personnel. Its main application is in the new deployment of the local area networks (LAN) and the emerging market of the home area networks (HAN). The basic idea is to use advantageously the principle of bending losses for extracting signal from multimode fiber. Conversely the same effect can be used for inserting light into fiber without the need of connector or even without any controlled splicing and polishing operation. Studying the variation of losses versus bending radius, evaluating the reliability of a fiber under stress and considering the fabrication tolerances it's possible to determine the right position and angle for effectively inserting and extracting light. The focusing lenses have been implemented into a mechanical holder. Some prototypes have been realized by plastic molding technique. The optical study, the realization process and the first results are presented in this paper.

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Luca Maggi and Giovanni Delrosso "A novel method to couple light into an optical fiber avoiding fiber optic connectors", Proc. SPIE 6992, Micro-Optics 2008, 699218 (14 May 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.781305

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