EP0687925A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of forming an optical coupling waveguide and a lightguide device having the optical coupling waveguide
Assignee: Aventis Research and Technologies GmbH and Co KG
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Filing: 1995-05-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming a polymeric optical coupling waveguide (1) on a principal lightguide (6) including a lightguiding layer (2), which comprises the steps of applying a photopolymerizable monomer or a photocrosslinkable or photopolymerizable polymer or a mixture thereof onto the principal lightguide (6), curing the polymeric optical coupling waveguide (1) by exposure through a mask, and removing the unreacted area of the applied coat with a suitable solvent. Other methods are exposure and solubilizing of a photosolubilizable polymer or photolithographic patterning of the cured polymer. The coupling waveguide may be tapered, with the bigger cross section towards the end face.
Inventors
- 👤 Kaoru Dr. Okaniwa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/1221; G02B6/1228; G02B6/13; G02B6/138; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of forming a polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 on a principal lightguide 6 including a lightguiding layer 2, said method comprising the steps of: a) applying a photopolymerizable monomer or a photocross-linkable or photopolymerizable polymer or a mixture thereof onto the principal lightguide 6; b) curing by exposure that area of the applied portion where the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 is to be formed; and c) removing the uncured area of the applied portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of forming a polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 on a principal lightguide 6 including a lightguiding layer 2, said method comprising the steps of: a) applying a photosolubilizable polymer onto the principal lightguide 6; b) curing the applied polymer; c) solubilizing by exposure that area of the applied portion except where the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 is to be formed; and d) removing the solubilized area of the applied portion.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of forming a polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 on a principal lightguide 6 including a lightguiding layer 2, said method comprising the steps of: a) applying a polymer onto the principal lightguide 6, said copolymer being to form the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1; b) curing the applied polymer; and c) patterning by photolithography said cured polymer to the shape of the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 is formed before the upper cladding layer 3 is provided on the lightguiding layer 2.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 is formed after the upper cladding layer 3 is formed on the lightguiding layer 2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lightguide device having a polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 provided on a principal lightguide 6 including a lightguiding layer 2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A lightguide device according to claim 6 wherein the principal lightguide 6 comprises a lower cladding layer 4 and the lightguiding layer 2 and wherein the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 is provided on the lightguiding layer 2 and overlaid with an upper cladding layer 3.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A lightguide device according to claim 6 wherein the principal lightguide 6 comprises a lower cladding layer 4, the lightguiding layer 2 and an upper cladding layer 3, said upper cladding layer 3 being overlaid with the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lightguide device according to any one of claims 6-8 wherein the width of the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 decreases with the increasing distance from an end face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lightguide device according to any one of claims 6-8 wherein the thickness of the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 decreases with the increasing distance from an end face.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A lightguide device according to any one of claims 6-8 wherein both the width and the thickness of the polymeric optical coupling waveguide 1 decrease with the increasing distance from an end face.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lightguide device according to any one of claims 6-11 wherein the lightguiding layer 2 is of a channel type and wherein the width of said channel-type lightguiding layer decreases with the increasing distance from an end face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A lightguide device according to any one of claims 6-11 wherein the lightguiding layer 2 is of a channel type and wherein said channel-type lightguiding layer does not extend as far as the exit end face.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A lightguide device according to any one of claims 6-13 which is to be used as a waveguide-type optically active device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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