Patent 7173767 was granted and assigned to Avanex on February, 2007 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A focusing device with a refractive index profile changing from the center of the focusing device towards its perimeter, is made of a material wherein the lateral refractive index distribution of the focusing device material is homogeneous and wherein the focusing device comprises holes for introducing a graded refractive index profile. This allows accurate control of the graded refractive index profile.