Organic optical waveguide device and method of making

Claim 2

A waveguide structure comprising a substrate and a waveguide strip thereon including a polymerized photoactive composition containing a plastic material which is transmissive to light waves in the visible and near infrared range, a phenylglyoxylic acid or derivative thereof, and a photopolymer.

Claim 3

A waveguide structure comprising a substrate and a waveguide strip thereon including a polymerized photoactive composition deposited to a thickness of 100 micrometers or less and containing: (a) a plastic material chosen from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinylacetate and comprising one part by weight of said composition; (b) Photozid photopolymer, comprising one part by weight of said composition; and (c) a phenylglyoxylic acid or phenylglyoxylic acid derivative, comprising 0.1 part by weight of said composition.

Claim 4

A waveguide structure comprising a substrate and a waveguide strip thereon including a polymerized photoactive composition deposited to a thickness of 100 micrometers or less and containing: (a) a plastic material chosen from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinylacetate and comprising one part by weight of said composition; (b) Photozid photopolymer, comprising one part by weight of said composition; and (c) a phenylglyoxylic acid or phenylglyoxylic acid derivative, comprising 0.1 part by weight of said composition.

Claim 5

An organic optical waveguide device of predetermined planar geometry formed by: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing a layer of an organic photoactive composition to a predetermined thickness on said substrate, said photoactive composition being capable of forming a waveguiding material upon polymerization and comprising a plastic material which is transmissive to light waves in the visible and near infrared range, and a phenylglyoxylic acid or a derivative thereof, said acid or derivative comprising approximately 0.1 part by weight of said photoactive composition; (c) exposing said deposited layer to a beam of ultraviolet radiation through a mask defining said predetermined planar geometry; and (d) developing said deposited layer after said exposing to leave behind a portion of said deposited layer which has said predetermined planar geometry and which is an organic optical waveguiding material.

Claim 6

An organic optical waveguide device of predetermined planar geometry formed by: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing a layer of an organic photoactive composition to a predetermined thickness on said substrate, said photoactive composition being capable of forming a waveguiding material upon polymerization and comprising a plastic material which is transmissive to light waves in the visible and near infrared range, and a phenylglyoxylic acid or a derivative thereof, said acid or derivative comprising approximately 0.1 part by weight of said photoactive composition; (c) exposing said deposited layer to a beam of ultraviolet radiation through a mask defining said predetermined planar geometry; and (d) developing said deposited layer after said exposing to leave behind a portion of said deposited layer which has said predetermined planar geometry and which is an organic optical waveguiding material.

Claim 7

A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said photoactive composition contains a material selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinylacetate and is deposited to a thickness of approximately 100 micrometers.

Claim 8

A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said predetermined planar geometry is in the form of the letter "Y" and said device functions as an optical coupler.

Claim 9

A process for forming an organic optical waveguide device of predetermined planar geometry comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing a layer of an organic photoactive composition to a predetermined thickness on said substrate, said photoactive composition being capable of forming a waveguiding material upon polymerization and comprising a plastic material chosen from the group consisting of polymethylmethacylate and polyvinylacetate and comprising one part by weight of said composition, a phenylglyoxylic acid or a derivative thereof, said acid or derivative comprising approximately 0.1 part by weight of said photoactive composition, and a photopolymer comprising Photozid and comprising one part by weight of said composition; (c) exposing said deposited layer to a beam of ultraviolet radiation through a mask defining said predetermined planar geometry; and (d) developing said deposited layer after said exposing to leave behind a portion of said deposited layer which has said predetermined planar geometry and which is an organic optical waveguiding material.

Claim 10

A process for forming an organic optical waveguide device of predetermined planar geometry comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing a layer of an organic photoactive composition to a predetermined thickness on said substrate, said photoactive composition being capable of forming a waveguiding material upon polymerization and comprising a plastic material chosen from the group consisting of polymethylmethacylate and polyvinylacetate and comprising one part by weight of said composition, a phenylglyoxylic acid or a derivative thereof, said acid or derivative comprising approximately 0.1 part by weight of said photoactive composition, and a photopolymer comprising Photozid and comprising one part by weight of said composition; (c) exposing said deposited layer to a beam of ultraviolet radiation through a mask defining said predetermined planar geometry; and (d) developing said deposited layer after said exposing to leave behind a portion of said deposited layer which has said predetermined planar geometry and which is an organic optical waveguiding material.