EP0378226A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Optical waveguide devices and methods of making the devices
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1990-01-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-01-12
Abstract
Abstract Optical waveguide devices for interconnecting optical fibers and use in integrated optical systems. The invention includes a substantially dry method for making the devices and intermediate elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Lee Booth
- 👤 Joseph Emidio Marcheigano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/124; G02B6/13; G02B6/138
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A substantially dry method of making an optical waveguide device with at least one buried channel waveguide in a laminated and hardened matrix, comprising the steps of: exposing to light at least a first region of a substantially dry photohardenable film having first and second surfaces, with a support removably adhered to the first surface, polymerizing at least one monomer in the film and changing the refractive index of the region to form at least a first optical waveguide; laminating a first surface of a first substantially dry photohardenable layer to the film second surface, with a support removably adhered to a second surface of the first layer; removing the support from the film first surface; laminating a first surface of a second substantially dry photohardenable layer to the film first surface, with a support removably adhered to a second surface of the second layer; and hardening the layers and film forming a hardened matrix, substantially fixing the indexes of refraction of the layers and the film, and forming at least one buried waveguide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A substantially dry method of making an optical waveguide device with at least one buried channel waveguide in a laminated and hardened matrix, comprising the steps of: exposing to light at least a first region of a substantially dry photohardenable film having first and second surfaces, with a support removably adhered to the first surface, polymerizing at least one monomer in the film and changing the refractive index of the region to form at least a first optical waveguide; laminating a first surface of a first substantially dry photohardenable layer to the film second surface, with a support removably adhered to a second surface of the first layer; removing the support from the film first surface; laminating a first surface of a second substantially dry photohardenable layer to the film first surface, with a support removably adhered to a second surface of the second layer; and hardening the layers and film forming a hardened matrix, substantially fixing the indexes of refraction of the layers and the film, and forming at least one buried waveguide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of: directing, before the hardening step, at least two coherent light beams to intersect in an area selected from the group consisting of at least part of the region, at least part of one of the layers near the region, and combinations thereof to provide a resultant light intensity that spatially varies in such a way as to produce a holographic diffraction volume phase grating comprising regions of varying refractive index for directing light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of: directing, before the hardening step, a coherent light beam through a hologram of a grating and then through an area selected from the group consisting of at least part of the region, at least part of one of the layers near the region, and combinations thereof to form a holographic diffraction grating in the device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of Claim 2 or 3, wherein the directing step is performed prior to the exposing step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of Claim 2 or 3, wherein the directing step is performed subsequent to the exposing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 2 or 3, wherein the directing step is performed prior to the first laminating step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 2 or 3, wherein the directing step is performed subsequent to the first laminating step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
An optical waveguide device for use in integrated optical systems comprising: a photohardened film having first and second surfaces, the film having a first region and remaining regions, the first region adapted to transmit light as an optical waveguide; a first photohardened layer having first and second surfaces, the first layer first surface laminated on the film first surface covering a first side of the waveguide; and a second photohardened layer having first and second surfaces, the second layer first surface laminated on the film second surface covering a second side of the waveguide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
An optical waveguide device for use in integrated optical systems comprising: a photohardened film having first and second surfaces, the film having a first region and remaining regions, the first region adapted to transmit light as an optical waveguide; a first photohardened layer having first and second surfaces, the first layer first surface laminated on the film first surface covering a first side of the waveguide; and a second photohardened layer having first and second surfaces, the second layer first surface laminated on the film second surface covering a second side of the waveguide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device as set forth in Claim 8, further comprising a holographic diffraction grating comprising areas of varying refractive indexes in a space selected from the group consisting of at least part of the first region, at least part of one of the layers near the region, and combinations thereof to direct light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of Claim 9, wherein the grating is a volume phase grating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of Claim 10, further comprising a second waveguide, the grating positioned to relay light from the first waveguide to the second waveguide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of Claim 11, wherein longitudinal axes of the first waveguide and the second waveguide are colinear and the grating is between the waveguides.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of Claim 11, wherein longitudinal axes of the first waveguide and the second waveguide are not colinear.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of Claim 11, wherein the grating is positioned at an end of one of the waveguides.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical waveguide for guiding light, the waveguide having at least a bilobal refractive index profile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical waveguide for guiding light, the waveguide having at least a bilobal refractive index profile.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The waveguide of Claim 15, wherein the profile has two lobes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The waveguide of Claim 15, wherein light will propagate in a fundamental mode through each section of the waveguide corresponding to each of the lobes in the profile.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The waveguide of Claim 15, wherein the bilobal refractive index profile is across a line in a cross sectional area of the waveguide in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The waveguide of Claim 15, wherein the bilobal refractive index profile is near an intersection between at least a first portion of a waveguide having a first axis and at least a second portion of the waveguide having a second axis, whereby the first axis and the second axis are not parallel and define a plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The waveguide of Claim 19, wherein the waveguide at the intersection is wider than each one of the first portion and the second portion adjacent the intersection, and the bilobal refractive index profile is in the wider intersection.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The waveguide of Claim 19, wherein the bilobal refractive index profile is substantially parallel to the plane and substantially normal to at least one of the first and second axes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The waveguide of Claim 19, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise a Y configuration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The waveguide of Claim 19, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise an X configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
91 words
The waveguide of Claim 19, wherein when light passes through a first segment of the waveguide including the intersection having input and output branches, each of the branches having a length L, there is a cumulative light power loss comprising the difference between all light power (P₁) entering the first segment minus all light power (P₂) exiting the first segment that is substantially the same as a power loss through a second segment of the waveguide having length 2L without an intersection when light power entering the second segment is P₁.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of making an optical waveguide having a bilobal refractive index profile comprising exposing to light at least a first region of a photohardenable material, polymerizing at least one monomer in the material and changing the refractive index of the region to form at least a first optical waveguide having a bilobal refractive index profile.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of making an optical waveguide having a bilobal refractive index profile comprising exposing to light at least a first region of a photohardenable material, polymerizing at least one monomer in the material and changing the refractive index of the region to form at least a first optical waveguide having a bilobal refractive index profile.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of Claim 25, further comprising controlling, during the exposing step, the temperature thereby controlling the refractive index profile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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