| abstract |
An optical fiber (10) having a reduced cross sectional region adjacent its distal end, which is fused to an optical component (14), is vibrated, rotating the optical component (14) to scan a region. The optical component (14) has a back focal point substantially coincident with an effective light source of the optical fiber (10), so the light emanating from the optical component (14) is either substantially collimated or convergent. The optical component (14) is either a ball lens, a drum lens, a graded index lens, or a diffractive optical element. A vibratory node is also made substantially coincident with the back focal point of the optical component (14), producing a compact scanner with extensive field of view. The optical fiber (10) is preferably reduced in cross sectional area after the optical component (14) is fused to the optical fiber (10), by immersion in a three layer etch apparatus having an etch stop layer (30), an etch layer (36), and a solvent layer (38). |