Patent US5540799A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5540799A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method of fabricating optical waveguide from a laminate
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-31
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Granted: 1996-07-30
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Expires: 2014-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A method of fabricating optical waveguides includes providing first, second and third layers of material, with the second layer being clear and the first and third layers having an index of refraction at least 0.01 lower than the second layer. A laminate of the layers of material is formed with the second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers and the laminate is heated until plastic and pressed together at spaced apart locations to form the second layer into at least one optical waveguide core with the first and third layers forming cladding layers therearound.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael S. Lebby
- 👤 Davis H. Hartman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:51
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B43/00; B29; B29C; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/20; B29C43/203; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00663; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/1221; B29L; B29L2011/00; B29L2011/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides comprising the steps of: providing first, second and third layers of material, the second layer being optically clear and having a first index of refraction and the first and third layers having an index of refraction at least 0.01 lower than the first index of refraction, the first, second and third layers further each having a first temperature at which they become plastic; forming a laminate of the first, second and third layers of material with the second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers; heating the laminate to the first temperature so as to make the first, second and third layers plastic; and pressing the laminate, heated to the first temperature, together at spaced apart locations to squeeze the first, second and third layers of material out of the spaced apart locations so as to form the second layer into at least one optical waveguide core with the first and third layers forming cladding layers therearound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides comprising the steps of: providing first, second and third layers of material, the second layer being optically clear and having a first index of refraction and the first and third layers having an index of refraction at least 0.01 lower than the first index of refraction, the first, second and third layers further each having a first temperature at which they become plastic; forming a laminate of the first, second and third layers of material with the second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers; heating the laminate to the first temperature so as to make the first, second and third layers plastic; and pressing the laminate, heated to the first temperature, together at spaced apart locations to squeeze the first, second and third layers of material out of the spaced apart locations so as to form the second layer into at least one optical waveguide core with the first and third layers forming cladding layers therearound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first, second and third layers are formed of an adhesive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first and third layers are formed of a similar adhesive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indices of refraction of the first, second and third layers are in the range of approximately 1.50 to 1.54.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first, second and third layers each have a second temperature at which they cure into a final product and bond together and the method includes a final step of curing the first, second and third layers at the second temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first, second and third layers each have a second temperature at which they cure into a final product and bond together and to the form, and the method includes a final step of curing the first, second and third layers at the second temperature.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides comprising the steps of: providing first, second and third layers of material, the second layer being optically clear and having a first index of refraction and the first and third layers having an index of refraction at least 0.01 lower than the first index of refraction, the first, second and third layers further each having a first temperature at which they become plastic; forming a laminate of the first, second and third layers of material with the second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers; providing a form having a planar surface and an elongated groove formed in the planar surface; heating the laminate to the first temperature so as to make the first, second and third layers plastic; and placing the heated laminate on the planar surface of the form and pressing the laminate, heated to the first temperature, to move the first, second and third layers of material of the laminate from the planar surface and into the groove in the planar surface of the form to mold the second layer into at least one optical waveguide core with the first and third layers forming cladding layers therearound in the groove.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides comprising the steps of: providing first, second and third layers of material, the second layer being optically clear and having a first index of refraction and the first and third layers having an index of refraction at least 0.01 lower than the first index of refraction, the first, second and third layers further each having a first temperature at which they become plastic; forming a laminate of the first, second and third layers of material with the second layer sandwiched between the first and third layers; providing a form having a planar surface and an elongated groove formed in the planar surface; heating the laminate to the first temperature so as to make the first, second and third layers plastic; and placing the heated laminate on the planar surface of the form and pressing the laminate, heated to the first temperature, to move the first, second and third layers of material of the laminate from the planar surface and into the groove in the planar surface of the form to mold the second layer into at least one optical waveguide core with the first and third layers forming cladding layers therearound in the groove.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first, second and third layers each have a second temperature at which they cure into a final product and bond together and to the form, and the method includes a final step of curing the first, second and third layers at the second temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 7 wherein the step of providing a form includes molding the form from plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of fabricating optical waveguides as claimed in claim 8 wherein the step of pressing the laminate, heated to the first temperature, into the groove includes providing a cap which mates with the planar surface of the form and using the cap to press the laminate into the groove.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |