Cost effective optical coupling for polymer optical fiber communication

Jayakrishnan Chandrappan; Jing Zhang; Ramkumar V. Mohan; Philbert Oliver Gomez; Than Aye Aung; Yongfei Xiao; Pamidighantam V. Ramana; John Hon Shing Lau; Dim Lee Kwong

doi:10.1117/12.764315

8 February 2008 Cost effective optical coupling for polymer optical fiber communication

Jayakrishnan Chandrappan, Jing Zhang, Ramkumar V. Mohan, Philbert Oliver Gomez, Than Aye Aung, Yongfei Xiao, Pamidighantam V. Ramana, John Hon Shing Lau, Dim Lee Kwong

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6899, Photonics Packaging, Integration, and Interconnects VIII; 68991A (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.764315
Event: Integrated Optoelectronic Devices 2008, 2008, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Polymer Optical Fiber (POF) optical modules are gaining momentum due to their applications in short distance communications. POFs offer more flexibility for plug and play applications and provide cost advantages. They also offer significant weight advantage in automotive and avionic networks. One of the most interesting field of application is home networking. Low cost optical components are required, since cost is a major concern in local and home networks. In this publication, a fast and easy to install, low cost solution for efficient light coupling in and out of Step Index- POF is explored. The efficient coupling of light from a large core POF to a small area detector is the major challenge faced. We simulated direct coupling, lens coupling and bend losses for step index POF using ZEMAX^R optical simulation software. Simulations show that a lensed fiber tip particularly at the receiver side improves the coupling efficiency. The design is optimized for 85% coupling efficiency and explored the low cost fabrication method to implement it in the system level. The two methods followed for lens fabrication is described here in detail. The fabricated fiber lenses are characterized using a beam analyzer. The fabrication process was reiterated to optimize the lens performance. It is observed that, the fabricated lenses converge the POF output spot size by one fourth, there by enabling a higher coupling efficiency. This low cost method proves to be highly efficient and effective optical coupling scheme in POF communications.

Citation Download Citation

Jayakrishnan Chandrappan, Jing Zhang, Ramkumar V. Mohan, Philbert Oliver Gomez, Than Aye Aung, Yongfei Xiao, Pamidighantam V. Ramana, John Hon Shing Lau, and Dim Lee Kwong "Cost effective optical coupling for polymer optical fiber communication", Proc. SPIE 6899, Photonics Packaging, Integration, and Interconnects VIII, 68991A (8 February 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.764315

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