Laser 3D printing of expanded beam connectors for optical connectivity

Lei Yuan; Aofei Mao; Jie Liu; Ying Liu; Arron Webster; Jeffrey Clark; Zheng Xiong; Randy L. McClure; Qi Wu; Ming-jun Li; Peizi Li; Peixun Fan; Yongfeng Lu

doi:10.1117/12.2648392

17 March 2023 Laser 3D printing of expanded beam connectors for optical connectivity

Lei Yuan, Aofei Mao, Jie Liu, Ying Liu, Arron Webster, Jeffrey Clark, Zheng Xiong, Randy L. McClure, Qi Wu, Ming-jun Li, Peizi Li, Peixun Fan, Yongfeng Lu

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12412, Laser 3D Manufacturing X; 124120A (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2648392
Event: SPIE LASE, 2023, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Single-mode, multi-fiber expanded-beam connectors (EBCs) were fabricated based on a two-step process using coreless glass fibers and two-photon polymerization (TTP) 3D printing technique. First, coreless glass fibers were spliced onto a single-mode fiber ribbon and then precisely laser-cleaved to the ideal length. A micro-lens array was directly laser printed onto the coreless fiber extensions using the TPP technique to create the expanded, collimated output beam. Coupling loss measurements at 1310 nm between two 3D-printed EBCs matched the results of simulations. The high spatial resolution of the TPP technique avoids cumbersome active alignment procedures, and thus enables low-cost, high-throughput optical connectivity solutions.

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Citation Download Citation

Lei Yuan, Aofei Mao, Jie Liu, Ying Liu, Arron Webster, Jeffrey Clark, Zheng Xiong, Randy L. McClure, Qi Wu, Ming-jun Li, Peizi Li, Peixun Fan, and Yongfeng Lu "Laser 3D printing of expanded beam connectors for optical connectivity", Proc. SPIE 12412, Laser 3D Manufacturing X, 124120A (17 March 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2648392

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