Methods of manufacturing optical devices are disclosed. The method includes providing a structure-forming fiber bonded to at least one otheroptical component, the structure-forming fiber having a preferentially-etchable portion including at least one radial etching boundary and at least one axial etching boundary, and etching the preferentially-etchable portion to the radial and axial etching boundaries to produce a precise optical structure. The preferentially-etchable portion may be removed through one or more radial openings in the structure-forming fiber. Numerous other aspects are provided.
F.32 International patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 17241110The present invention relates to an in-line optical device, and more particularly to an in-line optical device adapted to be connected to an optical fiber. The in-line optical device is suitable for use in different in-line fiberoptics systems to provide interaction of the guided optical field with the surrounding medium or other photonics structure. The in-line optical device includes a field interaction region of an optically-transmissive material or at least the fiber core, a support structure spaced from the central axis having one or more radial openings; and a void between the support structure and the field interaction region, the void substantially surrounding the field interaction region. An in-line optical system includes a first and second lead-in optical fiber, and in-line optical device, which is coupled between both lead-in fibers. The method of manufacturing includes providing a structure-forming fiber with support structure forming portion, a field interaction region forming portion, and a preferentially etchable portion. It also includes bonding the structure forming fiber between both lead-in fibers to form a fiber assembly that is further etched. Etching is needed to remove the etchable portion in order to form an in-line optical device having a field interaction region with support structures.
F.32 International patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 17639446