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US4531809A
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Optical waveguide coupling device
Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1983-09-08
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Granted: 1985-07-30
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Expires: 2003-09-08
Abstract
Abstract An optical waveguide coupling device which can perform switching functions by changing input light intensity, and associated method of construction thereof, in which the device comprises a base substrate etched to provide an optical grating having a predetermined grating period and amplitude. A thin metal film is deposited on the grating. Subsequently, a polymer film is deposited over the thin metal film, thus forming an optical waveguide. The field for the waveguide mode is nearly zero at the metal-polymer film interface, thus eliminating the loss of energy in the thin metal film. The metal film, in essence, reflects the input beam so that substantially no energy is lost via transmission through the thin metal film and thus all available energy is for coupling into the waveguide mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary M. Carter
- 👤 Yung-Jui Chen
- 👤 Sukant K. Tripathy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/0808; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/34; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/3515; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An optical waveguide coupling device comprising a base substrate having formed therein an optical grating, said base substrate comprising silicon, a thin metal film deposited on the optical grating, and a polymer film deposited over the thin metal film, whereby substantially all incident power may be coupled into the waveguide mode, and wherein said optical grating is formed by etching the silicon substrate with a predetermined grating period and amplitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
An optical waveguide coupling device comprising a base substrate having formed therein an optical grating, said base substrate comprising silicon, a thin metal film deposited on the optical grating, and a polymer film deposited over the thin metal film, whereby substantially all incident power may be coupled into the waveguide mode, and wherein said optical grating is formed by etching the silicon substrate with a predetermined grating period and amplitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thin metal film comprises a noble metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said thin metal film comprises silver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thin metal film is deposited to a thickness on the order of 1 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said optical grating has a period on the order of 5000A and an amplitude on the order of 500A.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the field for the waveguide mode is substantially zero at the metal/polymer film interface, thus substantially eliminating the loss of energy in the thin metal film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said polymer film comprises a polydiacetylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said polymer film comprises an organic polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said device is characterized by having a switching effect which is brought about by changing the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said polymer film comprises the diacetylene monomer CH 3 (CH 2 ) 15 --C.tbd.C--C.tbd.C-- (CH 2 ) 8 --COOH.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said polymer film has a thickness on the order of 5000A deposited in multiple layers, each of 30A-70A.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the polymer film as well as the grating period and amplitude are a function of the wavelength of device operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the grating period and thickness of the film is on the order of λ/1.5 where the factor 1.5 is the index of refraction of the polymer film at a transparent region thereof, and λ is the wavelength of the light applied thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical waveguide coupling device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the grating amplitude is on the order of λ/10, λ being the wavelength of the light applied thereto.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of constructing an optical waveguide comprising the steps of providing a base substrate, forming, in the base substrate, an optical grating of predetermined period and amplitude, and depositing a thin metal film, comprising silver deposited by evaporation, on the optical grating, and subsequently depositing a polymer film over the thin metal film, whereby substantially all incident power may be coupled into the waveguide mode.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of constructing an optical waveguide comprising the steps of providing a base substrate, forming, in the base substrate, an optical grating of predetermined period and amplitude, and depositing a thin metal film, comprising silver deposited by evaporation, on the optical grating, and subsequently depositing a polymer film over the thin metal film, whereby substantially all incident power may be coupled into the waveguide mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said polymer film is deposited by separately growing a monomer film at an air/water interface of a Langmuir Blodgett film balance apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 16 including dipping the metal deposited substrate so as to transfer said polymer layer to said substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said polymer layer transfer is repeated a number of times to form multiple layers as thick as 5000A.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein polymerization of said polymer layer is carried out using an ultraviolet source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the resultant polymer film is single crystalline and well oriented.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-29 | 1989-01-28 | 1989-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-29 | 1993-01-28 | 1993-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-29 | 1997-01-28 | 1997-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |