Patent US5064266A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5064266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Circular channel waveguides and lenses formed from rectangular channel waveguides
Assignee: Viavi Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-05
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Granted: 1991-11-12
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Expires: 2010-07-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are disclosed whereby channel waveguides are formed to have substantially circular cross-section shapes to more closely match the circular cross-section shape of a typical optical fiber. Rectangular cross-section channel waveguides are heated to create surface tension between the core and cladding layers resulting in the rectangular shape changing to a substantially circular shape. An over cladding layer may be added to the circular cross-section waveguide. A method is also disclosed whereby monolithic lenses may be formed from the same circular cross-section waveguides on a common substrate, simultaneously, to provide substantially perfectly aligned lenses and waveguides that are not prone to alignment and bonding problems of discrete lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Cheng-ko J. Sun
- 👤 Shin Sumida
- 👤 Shigeki Sakaguchi
- 👤 Tadashi Miyashita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/12004; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for forming circular cross-section channel waveguides, said method comprising the steps of: forming a planar waveguide on a substrate, said waveguide having a core layer and a cladding layer; forming said core and cladding layers into a rectangular cross-section channel waveguide; selectively etching said cladding layer more than said core layer; and heating said waveguide above a softening temperature resulting in surface tension in said core layer functioning to shape said core layer into a substantially circular cross-section shape.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for forming circular cross-section channel waveguides, said method comprising the steps of: forming a planar waveguide on a substrate, said waveguide having a core layer and a cladding layer; forming said core and cladding layers into a rectangular cross-section channel waveguide; selectively etching said cladding layer more than said core layer; and heating said waveguide above a softening temperature resulting in surface tension in said core layer functioning to shape said core layer into a substantially circular cross-section shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said selective etching is accomplished using buffered HF.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said cladding layer is selectively etched more than the said core layer because said core layer is previously doped to raise its refractive index.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said doped core layer is doped with a member of the group of dopants comprising GeO 2 , B203, TiO 2 and P205.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said forming of said layers into a rectangular channel waveguide is accomplished by etching.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said forming of said layers into a rectangular channel waveguide is accomplished by patterning.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: applying an over-cladding layer to said circular cross-section channel waveguide.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for forming a circular cross-section channel waveguide, said method comprising the steps of: forming a planar waveguide on a substrate, said waveguide including a core layer and cladding layer, said core layer doped to raise its refractive index; etching said planar waveguide to remove a substantial portion of said core layer and said cladding layer to generally result in a rectangular cross-section area equal to the desired final circular cross-section area; and heating said channel waveguide to at least a softening temperature of said core layer resulting in surface tension in said core layer creating a substantially circular cross-section shape while said cladding layer remains substantially rigid.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for forming a circular cross-section channel waveguide, said method comprising the steps of: forming a planar waveguide on a substrate, said waveguide including a core layer and cladding layer, said core layer doped to raise its refractive index; etching said planar waveguide to remove a substantial portion of said core layer and said cladding layer to generally result in a rectangular cross-section area equal to the desired final circular cross-section area; and heating said channel waveguide to at least a softening temperature of said core layer resulting in surface tension in said core layer creating a substantially circular cross-section shape while said cladding layer remains substantially rigid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising: applying an over-cladding layer to said circular cross-section core layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said doped core layer is doped with a member of the group of dopants comprising GeO 2 , B203, TiO 2 and P205.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for forming a self-aligned circular cross-section lens and circular cross-section channel waveguide assembly, said method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a rectangular waveguide having a core layer and cladding layer onto said substrate; forming a short block waveguide having a core layer and cladding layer onto said substrate at a predetermined distance from said long waveguide to form said assembly; placing said assembly into a heating device; and simultaneously heating said waveguides above their softening temperature for a time until said core layers form substantially circular cross section shapes.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for forming a self-aligned circular cross-section lens and circular cross-section channel waveguide assembly, said method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a rectangular waveguide having a core layer and cladding layer onto said substrate; forming a short block waveguide having a core layer and cladding layer onto said substrate at a predetermined distance from said long waveguide to form said assembly; placing said assembly into a heating device; and simultaneously heating said waveguides above their softening temperature for a time until said core layers form substantially circular cross section shapes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11, futher comprising: selecting the depths and widths of said channel waveguide and said short block to be substantially equal and further selecting said depth to be generally equal to 1.8 times said width.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical circuit assembly, comprising: a substrate suitable for forming a waveguide thereon; a substantially circular cross-section channel waveguide formed on said substrate, said circular channel waveguide formed from a planar waveguide comprising a doped core layer on a cladding layer; and a lens formed from a short block waveguide on said substrate and in alignment with said planar waveguide, said lens and said circular cross-section channel waveguide formed simultaneously by application of heat to said assembly to soften said short block waveguide and said planar waveguide thereby forming said substantially spherical lens and said substantially circular cross-section waveguide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical circuit assembly, comprising: a substrate suitable for forming a waveguide thereon; a substantially circular cross-section channel waveguide formed on said substrate, said circular channel waveguide formed from a planar waveguide comprising a doped core layer on a cladding layer; and a lens formed from a short block waveguide on said substrate and in alignment with said planar waveguide, said lens and said circular cross-section channel waveguide formed simultaneously by application of heat to said assembly to soften said short block waveguide and said planar waveguide thereby forming said substantially spherical lens and said substantially circular cross-section waveguide.
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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) | 1994-11-11 | 1995-05-13 | 1995-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-11 | 1999-05-13 | 1999-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-11 | 2003-05-13 | 2003-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |