title: Low-cost and efficient coupling technique using reflowed sol-gel microlens.
abstract: In this paper, we present a novel reflow technique for the fabrication of an elliptical microlens array in sol-gel glass. The fabricated refractive microlens array has a very smooth surface, and structural and dimensional conformity with the designed parameters. It is shown that the microlens array can provide high coupling efficiency of a laser diode to a single mode fiber, and relax the lateral and axial misalignment tolerance. The microlens coupling technique has the advantages of low coupling loss, large misalignment tolerances, and small package volume.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: X-C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tao