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US5178978A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fabricating integrated optics

Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1990-09-06
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2010-09-06
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Abstract

Abstract Method for fabricating components for integrated optics are provided wherein a film of poly-4BCMU on a glass substrate, is masked, e.g. with one or more metallic strips on a glass plate and such film is irradiated with, e.g. a UV lamp, tuned within the absorption band of such film, in air, to photobleach the film portions around channels covered by the masking strips and reduce the refractive index thereof below that of the unbleached film channels. The bleached film portions then provide reflective beam confining interfaces which define the unbleached channels and form waveguides within the film. The invention also provides for interfering two laser beams, of like λ, at a coupling spot on the film, which beams are again tuned within the absorption band of such film, which bleach alternate lines or bars of such film to provide a phase grating therein. A waveguide can be inscribed in such film to optically communicate with such phase grating and other components can be added such as optical interconnects, to direct light on various paths into and out of such integrated optical film circuit. The thus-formed circuit is preserved by encapsulating the so-bleached film in a layer of, e.g. epoxy, at a lower index of refraction than the unbleached film, while the glass substrate protects the reverse face of such film, which glass also has a lower index of refraction than the unbleached film so that the optical components of the invention, e.g. the waveguides, are enclosed on all sides by reflective interfaces of lower index of refraction to confine and channel transmitted light therein. The light can enter and exit the integrated optical circuit of the invention at a phase grating or where the waveguides reach the film edges. The invention takes advantage of photobleaching to change the index of refraction of portions of a thin film to define optical components therein and has located a class of films, the soluble polydiacetylenes, which, upon photobleaching, provide a considerable reduction in refractive index, enabling the definition of optical components in such film. The invention includes the methods of fabricating such integrated optics as well as the integrated optic products so-made.

Inventors

  • 👤 Raymond Zanoni
  • 👤 Kent B. Rochford

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-10 00:59
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/13; G02B5/00; G02B5/32; G02B6/122; G02B6/124; G03; G03C; G03C7/00; G03C7/02; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/0005; G03F7/001; G03F7/004; G03F7/025; G02B2006/12035; G02B2006/12069

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 79 words
A method for fabricating components for integrated optics comprising irradiating a portion of a film of soluble polydiacetylene on a substrate with light tuned within the absorption band of such polymer, in air, to photobleach such film portion on at least two sides of a lesser bleached or unbleached part of said film, to reduce the refractive index of said film portion below that of such film part and define an optical path or waveguide in such film part.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 79 words
A method for fabricating components for integrated optics comprising irradiating a portion of a film of soluble polydiacetylene on a substrate with light tuned within the absorption band of such polymer, in air, to photobleach such film portion on at least two sides of a lesser bleached or unbleached part of said film, to reduce the refractive index of said film portion below that of such film part and define an optical path or waveguide in such film part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polydiacetlylene film is a film of poly-4BCMU.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said light is an unfocused or focused laser beam, a white light or UV light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 52 words
The method of claim 1 comprising cross-irradiating a portion of said film with a first laser beam at one angle and directing a second laser beam from the same laser, at said portion at a different angle, to interfere with said first laser beam to define a phase grating in said film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 4 wherein an unbleached path, extending to said grating, is selected and photobleaching on two sides of said path, to define in the lesser bleached or unbleached path, a waveguide which optically communicates with said phase grating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is of poly-4BCMU.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is photobleached in a pattern for integrated optical applications.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said film is masked and said film is irradiated adjacent the masked components to photobleach the unmasked portions of said film and define part of said film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is 0.5 to 1.5 um thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film has been previously deposited on a glass substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the index of refraction of poly-4BCMU is reduced by up to 0.08 for a wavelength of 1064 nm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the so-bleached film is encapsulated by an epoxy layer of lesser refractive index than such lesser or unbleached film part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is irradiated by a plurality of laser beams which intersect at the surface of said film to photobleach same in a pattern and form a phase grating therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 56 words
An integrated optic comprising a film of soluble polydiacetylene on a substrate, which film has photobleached portions on at least two sides of a lesser bleached or unbleached part, said portions each having a lesser index of refraction than said part to provide reflective boundaries thereat so that said part defines a waveguide in said film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 56 words
An integrated optic comprising a film of soluble polydiacetylene on a substrate, which film has photobleached portions on at least two sides of a lesser bleached or unbleached part, said portions each having a lesser index of refraction than said part to provide reflective boundaries thereat so that said part defines a waveguide in said film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 11 words
The optic of claim 14 having a phase grating photobleached therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
The optic of claim 15 having a lesser or unbleached part or pathway extending to said phase grating to define a waveguide or channel which optically communicates with said phase grating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 11 words
The optic of claim 14 wherein said film is of poly-4BCMU.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 21 words
The optic of claim 14 wherein said film has a pattern of lesser bleached or unbleached parts as optic components therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
The optic of claim 14 wherein said film is 0.5 to 1.5 um thick.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 14 words
The optic of claim 14 wherein said film is deposited on a glass substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
The optic of claim 20 wherein said film is photobleached in a pattern for integrated optical application.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 24 words
The optic of claim 14 wherein the index of refraction of poly-4BCMU is reduced by p to 0.08 for a λ of 1064 nm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 43 words
The optic of claim 14 wherein the so-bleached film is covered by a layer of lesser index of refraction than each lesser bleached or unbleached film part so that said layer and said substrate form reflective boundaries for optic components in said film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 39 words
The optic of claim 14 wherein said film is photobleached around lesser bleached or unbleached portions which define optical components selected from the group consisting of optical interconnects, waveguides, phase gratings and polymer read-write heads for optical data storage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 20 words
The optic of claim 24 encapsulated by an epoxy of lesser refractive index than said components for refractive index durability.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 57 words
A method for fabricating integrated optical components in a film comprising, placing a film of soluble polydiacetylene on a glass substrate and photobleaching two spaced portions of said film to reduce the index of refraction of each film portion relative to the lesser bleached or unbleached film part therebetween to define said part as an optical channel.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 57 words
A method for fabricating integrated optical components in a film comprising, placing a film of soluble polydiacetylene on a glass substrate and photobleaching two spaced portions of said film to reduce the index of refraction of each film portion relative to the lesser bleached or unbleached film part therebetween to define said part as an optical channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said film is bleached in spaced lines or bars to define a phase grating.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the so-bleached film surface is encapsulated with a transparent layer of a lower index of refraction than the unbleached film.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US4536450A Cited
US4515429A Cited
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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) 1996-01-12 1996-07-13 1997-01-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-01-12 2000-07-13 2001-01-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-01-12 2004-07-13 2005-01-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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