US3833284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling arrangements for dielectric and metal-clad optical waveguides
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-27
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-08-27
Abstract
Abstract There are disclosed arrangements for optically coupling dielectric waveguides to waveguides bounded on one or more sides by a metal layer or cladding. Excessive losses at the junctions between these guides are avoided according to the invention by disposing a tapered transition layer between the dielectric light-guiding layer and the edge of the metal layer. The tapered transition layer has an index of refraction that is less than that of the dielectric layer and a thickness such that little of the evanescent field of the light propagating in the dielectric layer extends to the leading edge of the metal layer. With tapers in the transition layer that are sufficiently gradual, transitions between the guides can be made essentially lossless.
Inventors
- 👤 I Kaminow
- 👤 H Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:49
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An optical coupling arrangement of the type comprising a substrate, an optically transparent dielectric thin film formed on a major surface of said substrate to guide a beam of optical electromagnetic radiation, and a metal layer formed on at least one of the major surfaces of said film along a portion of the intended path of the beam to be guided therein, said arrangement being characterized in that a transition layer of an optically transparent material is disposed between said film and said metal layer in the region of an edge of said metal layer, said transition layer having an index of refraction less than that of said film and a thickness which is first gradually increased preceding the edge and then gradually decreased following the edge along the intended path of the beam with a thickness at the edge of said metal layer sufficient to avoid contact of the evanescent field of the beam to be guided in said film with the edge of said metal layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An optical coupling arrangement of the type comprising a substrate, an optically transparent dielectric thin film formed on a major surface of said substrate to guide a beam of optical electromagnetic radiation, and a metal layer formed on at least one of the major surfaces of said film along a portion of the intended path of the beam to be guided therein, said arrangement being characterized in that a transition layer of an optically transparent material is disposed between said film and said metal layer in the region of an edge of said metal layer, said transition layer having an index of refraction less than that of said film and a thickness which is first gradually increased preceding the edge and then gradually decreased following the edge along the intended path of the beam with a thickness at the edge of said metal layer sufficient to avoid contact of the evanescent field of the beam to be guided in said film with the edge of said metal layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The arrangement of claim 1 in which said film has a thickness of the order of the wavelength of the radiation to be guided therein and in which the tapered regions of said transition layer extend over distances along the intended path of said beam greater than about ten times the wavelength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The arrangement of claim 2 in which the thickness of said transition layer at the edge of said metal layer is between about one and three times the wavelength of the beam to be guided in said film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The arrangement of claim 1 in which the transition layer thickness is zero at a first point following the edge of said metal layer along the intended path of said beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The arrangement of claim 4 in which the transition layer thickness is zero at a second point preceding the edge of said metal layer along the intended path of said beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3610727A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |