US5028109A — Methods for fabricating frequency doubling polyme…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 181 words

A method of fabricating a polymeric structure having a region characterized by a repetitive sequence of regions, each region having molecular structures aligned in a direction that is opposite an alignment of molecular structures in an adjacent one of the regions, comprising the steps of: providing a layer comprised of a polymeric material having the molecular structures contained within; applying an orientating influence to the polymeric layer to align substantially all of the molecular structures in a first direction; generating a diffraction pattern within the polymeric layer, the diffraction pattern being characterized by bright and dark fringes; polymerizing a volume of the polymeric layer within substantially only portions thereof that correspond to the bright fringes, the step of polymerizing including a step of fixing the alignment of the molecular structures within the polymerized portions in the first direction; applying an orientating influence to the polymeric layer to align substantially all of the unfixed molecular structures in a second direction; and polymerizing the remaining portions of the polymeric layer to fix the molecular structures therein with an alignment in the second direction.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 181 words

A method of fabricating a polymeric structure having a region characterized by a repetitive sequence of regions, each region having molecular structures aligned in a direction that is opposite an alignment of molecular structures in an adjacent one of the regions, comprising the steps of: providing a layer comprised of a polymeric material having the molecular structures contained within; applying an orientating influence to the polymeric layer to align substantially all of the molecular structures in a first direction; generating a diffraction pattern within the polymeric layer, the diffraction pattern being characterized by bright and dark fringes; polymerizing a volume of the polymeric layer within substantially only portions thereof that correspond to the bright fringes, the step of polymerizing including a step of fixing the alignment of the molecular structures within the polymerized portions in the first direction; applying an orientating influence to the polymeric layer to align substantially all of the unfixed molecular structures in a second direction; and polymerizing the remaining portions of the polymeric layer to fix the molecular structures therein with an alignment in the second direction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of generating includes a step of illuminating the polymeric layer with two wavefronts of radiation, the two wavefronts having a wavelength selected for photopolymerizing the polymeric layer.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 52 words

A method as set forth in claim wherein the first step of applying an orientating influence is accomplished by applying a DC electrical field potential across the polymeric layer and wherein the second step of applying an orientating influence includes a step of reversing the polarity of the DC electric field potential.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the DC electric field potential has a magnitude within a range of approximately 5×10 6 to approximately 50×10 6 Volts/meter.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing provides a layer comprised of a photopolymer having a nonlinear moiety included therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing provides a layer comprised of a photopolymer and a selected dye.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of fabricating a polymeric structure having a region characterized by a repetitive sequence of regions, each region having molecular structures aligned in a direction that is opposite an alignment of molecular structures in an adjacent one of the regions, comprising the steps of: providing a layer comprised of a polymeric material having the molecular structures contained within; applying an orientating influence to the polymeric layer to align a plurality of first portions of the molecular structures in a first direction and to align a plurality of second portions of the molecular structures in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction such that individual ones of the first portions are interposed between two of the second portions in a repetitive sequence; and photopolymerizing the polymeric layer to fix the alignment of the first and the second portions of the molecular structures.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of fabricating a polymeric structure having a region characterized by a repetitive sequence of regions, each region having molecular structures aligned in a direction that is opposite an alignment of molecular structures in an adjacent one of the regions, comprising the steps of: providing a layer comprised of a polymeric material having the molecular structures contained within; applying an orientating influence to the polymeric layer to align a plurality of first portions of the molecular structures in a first direction and to align a plurality of second portions of the molecular structures in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction such that individual ones of the first portions are interposed between two of the second portions in a repetitive sequence; and photopolymerizing the polymeric layer to fix the alignment of the first and the second portions of the molecular structures.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of providing provides a layer comprised of a photopolymer having a nonlinear moiety included therein.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of providing provides a layer comprised of a photopolymer and a selected dye.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of applying includes a step of generating a periodic DC field potential within the polymeric layer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the periodic DC field potential is generated by passing radiation having a frequency of omega and a frequency of twice omega through the polymeric layer.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of fabricating a periodic nonlinear optic radiation modulation zone within a polymeric waveguide structure, comprising the steps of: providing a layer of a polymeric material having an optically active material that is orientable by an electrical field; applying an electrical field to the layer for orienting at least a portion of the optically active material; and photopolymerizing at least a portion of the polymeric layer for fixing the oriented optically active material into the oriented position.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of fabricating a periodic nonlinear optic radiation modulation zone within a polymeric waveguide structure, comprising the steps of: providing a layer of a polymeric material having an optically active material that is orientable by an electrical field; applying an electrical field to the layer for orienting at least a portion of the optically active material; and photopolymerizing at least a portion of the polymeric layer for fixing the oriented optically active material into the oriented position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of photopolymerizing includes the steps of: generating a diffraction pattern within the polymeric layer, the diffraction pattern being characterized by bright and dark fringes; and photopolymerizing a volume of the polymeric layer within substantially only portions thereof that correspond to the bright fringes.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of applying includes a step of generating a periodic DC field potential within the polymeric layer by a third order nonlinear effect induced by passing radiation having a frequency of omega and a frequency of twice omega through the polymeric layer.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of providing provides a layer comprised of a photopolymer and wherein the optically active material is comprised of a nonlinear moiety associated with the photopolymer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of providing provides a layer comprised of a photopolymer and wherein the optically active material is comprised of polar dye molecules.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the steps of applying and photopolymerizing are accomplished at a temperature substantially equal to or less than room temperature.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 130 words

An optical waveguide having a periodic nonlinear optic modulation zone for frequency doubling at least a portion of laser radiation passing therethrough, the zone being formed within a layer of a polymeric material and being characterized by an alternating sequence of domains wherein in a first domain an optically active material has a first orientation and in an adjacent domain the optically active material has a second orientation that is substantially opposite to the first orientation, the domains being characterized by having a cross-sectional shape that is approximately sinusoidal for minimizing a loss of Fourier energy of laser radiation passing therethrough, wherein the polymeric material is comprised of a photopolymer and wherein the optically active material is comprised of a nonlinear moiety dissolved within or chemically attached to the photopolymer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 130 words

An optical waveguide having a periodic nonlinear optic modulation zone for frequency doubling at least a portion of laser radiation passing therethrough, the zone being formed within a layer of a polymeric material and being characterized by an alternating sequence of domains wherein in a first domain an optically active material has a first orientation and in an adjacent domain the optically active material has a second orientation that is substantially opposite to the first orientation, the domains being characterized by having a cross-sectional shape that is approximately sinusoidal for minimizing a loss of Fourier energy of laser radiation passing therethrough, wherein the polymeric material is comprised of a photopolymer and wherein the optically active material is comprised of a nonlinear moiety dissolved within or chemically attached to the photopolymer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 18 wherein the polymeric material is comprised of a photopolymer and wherein the optically active material is comprised of a quantity of polar dye molecules.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 18 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength within a range of approximately 700 to 1300 nanometers.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 58 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 18 wherein the laser radiation is generated by a diode laser and has a wavelength within a range of approximately 700 to 1300 nanometers, and wherein the waveguide is optically coupled to the laser diode for having the laser radiation directly injected therein from an output of the laser diode.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 21 wherein the waveguide is fabricated on a common substrate with the laser diode.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 18 and including an input coupling means and an output coupling means for coupling by internal reflection laser radiation into the waveguide and for coupling by internal reflection frequency doubled radiation out of the waveguide, respectively.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 23 wherein the input coupling means and the output coupling means are each comprised of a prism.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 93 words

A method of fabricating a periodic nonlinear optic radiation modulation zone within a polymeric structure, comprising the steps of: providing a layer comprised of a polymeric material having an optically active material that is orientable by an electrical field; applying an electrical field to the layer for orienting at least a portion of the optically active material, the step of applying including a step of generating a periodic DC field potential within the polymeric layer by a third order nonlinear effect; and polymerizing the polymeric layer for fixing the oriented optically active material.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 93 words

A method of fabricating a periodic nonlinear optic radiation modulation zone within a polymeric structure, comprising the steps of: providing a layer comprised of a polymeric material having an optically active material that is orientable by an electrical field; applying an electrical field to the layer for orienting at least a portion of the optically active material, the step of applying including a step of generating a periodic DC field potential within the polymeric layer by a third order nonlinear effect; and polymerizing the polymeric layer for fixing the oriented optically active material.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein the step of generating includes a step of passing radiation having a wavelength of lambda and a wavelength of twice lambda through the polymeric layer.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein the step of polymerizing includes a step of photopolymerizing the polymeric layer.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein the step of polymerizing includes a step of cooling the polymeric material to a temperature that is less than a melting point temperature or a glass transition temperature of the polymeric material.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 28 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 18 wherein the photopolymer includes polar side chains that lack inversion symmetry and which have an intrinsic nonlinear optical response.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 35 words

An optical waveguide as set forth in claim 18 wherein each of the domains has a length, along a path of the laser radiation, within a range of approximately five microns to approximately 100 microns.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-07-01	1994-12-31	1995-07-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-07-01	1998-12-31	1999-07-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-07-01	2002-12-31	2003-07-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods for fabricating frequency doubling polymeric waveguides having optimally efficient periodic modulation zone and polymeric waveguides fabricated thereby

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag