October 29, 2002 -- Corning announced the introduction of a 1-mm gradient index (GRIN) lens that allows a significant reduction in the size of optical component packaging. These lenses are used by manufacturers of small switches, multiplexers/demultiplexers, isolators, MEMS-based devices, and other passive optical components.

The new silver-based 1-mm GRIN lens is considerably smaller than the typical 1.8-mm GRIN lens available today. It offers excellent performance characteristics including low dispersion, insertion loss of less than 0.2 dB and return loss of greater than 60 dB. The beam diameter at 1/e² is 240 microns, optimal for increasing manufacturing yields and improving thermal and aging reliability. The length is 3.23 mm and the gradient index constant is 0.49 mm^-1.

QuantumFocus 1-mm GRIN lenses are now available in .24 and .25 pitch sizes. This lens is the latest addition to Corning's line of microlenses that covers working distances of 10 microns to 100 mm and mode-field diameters of 3 microns to 420 microns. For more information, visit the company's Website, www.corning.com.