JPS61183151A - Production of ball lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a ball lens having a three-dimensionally, symmetrically desired refractive index distribution in a radial direction by suspending the ball lens in an atmosphere where a glassy substance having a desired refractive index is deposited on the surface of the lens and by heating the lens while rotating it at random. CONSTITUTION:The ball lens 1 is suspended in the air and rotated at random with flows of gases ejected from nozzles 2, 3, 4. The gases ejected from the nozzles 2, 3, 4 form an atmosphere in which a glassy substance having the desired refractive index is deposited on the surface of the lens 1, and a glassy substance having the desired refractive index is deposited on the surface of the lens 1. During this time, beams from a light source 11 for heating are irradiated on the lens 1 to melt-bond the glassy substance deposited on the surface of the lens 1 to the surface of the lens 1 as a glass layer having a uniform thickness which has the desired refractive index.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a ball lens, and more specifically, to a ball lens having a desired refractive index distribution that is three-dimensionally symmetrical along the radial direction. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a lens.

(Prior art) Ball lenses have optical characteristics that can be completely expressed by radius and refractive index, and are processed using a method similar to ball bearings, with diameters up to about 0.31111. Methods for manufacturing products with high precision and low cost have been established. Since the optical properties of the ball lenses manufactured in this way are completely symmetrical in three dimensions, there is no need to consider the direction when aligning the axes (the center of the ball is located on the optical axis). All you have to do is
It is being used for optical fiber connection parts, etc.

By the way, if you try to use such a ball lens with a large aperture diameter 9, for example, the entire ball, aberrations will become a problem, but the aberrations of such a ball lens are three-dimensional along the radial direction of the ball lens. It has been clarified that it is sufficient to provide a predetermined refractive index distribution so as to be symmetrical with respect to the refractive index distribution.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Conventionally, for example, a ball lens is placed in a molten salt or aqueous solution and the ions in the ball lens are exchanged from the surface. It is difficult to achieve a desired refractive index distribution.

Another method is to hold a portion of the ball lens and treat the surface by vapor deposition, etc.
The refractive index of the holding portion will be different from that of the other portions, resulting in loss of three-dimensional symmetry.

The present invention has focused on such points, and an object thereof is to provide a method for manufacturing a ball lens having a desired refractive index distribution that is three-dimensionally symmetrical along the radial direction.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention achieves the above object by rotating a ball lens in random directions while floating in an atmosphere that deposits a glassy material having a desired refractive index on its surface. However, the ball lens is heated to fuse the glass deposited on the surface of the ball lens to form a glass layer having a desired refractive index.

(Example) Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given using the drawings.

The drawing is an explanatory diagram of an IC structure showing an example of the apparatus used in the method of the present invention. In the drawing, 1 is a ball lens, which is held in the air by the flow of gas injected from nozzles 2 to 4, and randomly A rotational force is applied in the direction.

The nozzle 2 includes gas sources 5a to 5d and flow rate control mechanisms 68 to 6.
d and a plurality of gases (e.g. St H
A predetermined gas (e.g., 02) is added to the nozzle 3 via a gas source 5e and a flow rate control mechanism 6e, and a predetermined gas (for example, 02) is added to the nozzle 4 via a gas source 5f and a flow rate control mechanism 6e. A predetermined gas (for example, N) is added via a mechanism 6f. The gas injected from each of these nozzles 2 to 4 forms an atmosphere in which glass is deposited on the surface of the ball lens 1. In addition, each nozzle 2~
The injection angle and position of 4 are controlled by position control mechanisms 8 to 10. 11 is a ball lens 1 like a carbon dioxide laser
This is a heating light source for selectively heating the ball lens 1 , and its output light beam is irradiated onto the ball lens 1 via the lens 12 . 13 is a thermometer that optically measures the surface temperature of the ball lens 1, and the temperature of the ball lens 1 is adjusted according to the measured value.
The output of the heating light source 11 is controlled so that the surface temperature of the ball lens 1 reaches a predetermined temperature necessary to fuse the glass deposited on the surface of the ball lens 1 as a glass layer. 14 is a position measuring system for measuring the position of the ball lens 1, and the position control mechanisms 8 to 10 of the nozzles 2 to 4 are respectively controlled according to the measurement signal so that the ball lens 1 is always held at a predetermined position. . Reference numeral 15 denotes a characteristic measuring system for measuring optical characteristics such as the refractive index of the ball lens 1, and the valve openings of the flow rate control mechanisms 6a to 6f are adjusted according to the measurement results so that the deposited glass has a desired refractive index. is controlled and the composition of the glass is controlled.

16 is a CPU that centrally controls the operations of these parts, including a thermometer 131, a position measurement system 14. Measurement signals from the characteristic measurement system 15 and the like are applied, and in response to these measurement signals, the flow rate control mechanisms 68 to 6f and the position control I mechanisms 8 to 1 are applied.
0. A predetermined control signal is output to the heating light [11, etc.].

In such a configuration, the ball lens 1 connects the nozzles 2 to
It is held in the air by the gas flow injected from 4 and constantly rotates in random directions. On the other hand, the gas injected from the nozzles 2 to 4 forms an atmosphere that deposits glassy material with a desired refractive index on the surface of the ball lens 1. will be deposited. Since the ball lens 1 is irradiated with the output beam of the heating light source 11, the glass deposited on the surface of the ball lens 1 is fused to the surface of the ball lens 1 as a glass layer having a desired refractive index. That will happen.

Here, since the ball lens 1 is held in the air by the gas flow jetted from the nozzles 2 to 4 and is constantly rotating in random directions, the glass layer is coated on the entire surface of the ball lens 1 with a uniform thickness. It can be fused and three-dimensionally symmetrical properties can be obtained. Furthermore, by controlling the mixing ratio of gases such as Qe compounds that control the refractive index of the glass layer, a ball lens having a desired refractive index distribution along the radial direction can be realized.

In the above embodiment, the ball lens is held in the air by a gas flow, but it may be held in the air by static electricity, for example.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the operation of each part was controlled according to the measurement signals of the thermometer 1 position measurement system and characteristic measurement system, but each part was controlled by a program created based on parameters determined experimentally in advance. The drive may be controlled. According to such a system, a thermometer and a characteristic measuring system can be omitted, and the apparatus can be simplified.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a ball lens having a desired refractive index distribution that is three-dimensionally symmetrical along the radial direction, and the practical effects are great. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an example of an apparatus used in the method of the present invention. 1...Ball lens, 2-4...Nozzle, 5...
Gas source, 6...Flow rate control mechanism, 7...Mixer, 8~
10... Position control mechanism, 11... Heating light source, 12.
... Lens, 13... Density meter, 14... Position measurement system, 15... Characteristic measurement system, 1G... CPU.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The ball lens is heated in an atmosphere with a desired refractive index deposited on its surface while being rotated in random directions to fuse the glass deposited on the surface of the ball lens. A method for manufacturing a ball lens, comprising: forming a glass layer having a desired refractive index by