EP0490095A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Manufacturing method for planar optical waveguides
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1991-11-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing planar optical waveguides in which a planar optical preform which is stretched to form a planar optical cane with substantially smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the original preform, and in which the optical circuitry pattern is achieved by lithographic techniques. Optical fiber preforms may be inserted in slots in a substrate to form the planar optical preform.
Inventors
- 👤 Venkata Adiseshaiah Corning Inc. Bhagavatula
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A process for manufacturing glass blanks or planar optical waveguides made therefrom, comprising: a. forming a planar fused glass structure comprised of a first glass having a first refractive index and at least one second glass having a second refractive index which is different from said first refractive index; and b. reducing the thickness of said structure to produce a planar optical cane of preselected final dimensions, optionally removing material from at least one portion of said planar optical cane, optionally further combining a region of additional material with said at least one cane portion over at least one area where material has been removed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 1 wherein soot deposition techniques are used to apply said at least one second glass on at least one side of said first glass, or to apply said at least one second glass in dimensional slots in said first glass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said at least one second glass comprises at least one optical fiber preform which is placed into at least one slot in said first glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said at least one optical fiber preform comprises at least one large core optical fiber which is placed into at least one slot in said first glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 3 or 4 wherein after said at least one optical fiber preform is placed into said at least one slot, a cross-connect layer is applied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein the aspect ratio of said fused structure is selected to avoid geometric distortion during said thickness reducing steps, or the edges of said fused structure are rounded to reduce geometric distortion during said thickness reducing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of any one of claims 1-6 wherein the reduction in cross-sectional dimensions during said thickness reducing step is within the range of 10:1 to 20:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of any one of claims 1-7 wherein said at least one second glass comprises a layer initially at least 100 um thick and wherein said layer is reduced in thickness to approximately 6-8 um during siad thickness reducing step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Process according to any one of claims 1-8 wherein the thickness is reduced by heating and stretching and lithographic techniques are used for removal of material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The process of any one of claims 1-9 wherein said step of combining a region of additional material comprises applying an overclad layer by soot deposition or other chemical vapor deposition techniques to said planar optical devices, said process further comprising the step of fusing said overclad layer, wherein the composition of said overclad layer is carefully chosen so that after fusing the cladding layer covers without voids at least one region where material has been removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 10 further comprising the step of cutting said planar optical cane into a plurality of pieces before said removing step and wherein said pieces comprise said portions of said planar optical cane, or cutting said planar optical cane into a plurality of pieces after said removing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said step of combining a region of additional material comprises placing at least one optical fiber in contact with said at least one cane portion in communication with said preselected optical circuitry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said removing step further comprises the creation of alignment means to assist in positioning said optical fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 12 or 13 further comprising overcoating with glass the assembly of said at least one optical fiber and said at least one cane portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 5 wherein after said at least one optical fiber preform is placed into said at least one slot, a cross-connect layer is applied, and wherein said removing step further comprises removing portions of said cross-connect layer to leave a crossconnect pattern.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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