US5761364A — Optical waveguide

Claim 1

Independent Claim 98 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a cladding layer having a first end opposite a second end with a channel extending through the cladding layer from the first end to the second end, the cladding layer being opaque, the channel having a taper from the first end to the second end, the channel having a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, the cladding layer having a first index of refraction; and an optically conductive core material in the channel having a second index of refraction greater than the first index of refraction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 98 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a cladding layer having a first end opposite a second end with a channel extending through the cladding layer from the first end to the second end, the cladding layer being opaque, the channel having a taper from the first end to the second end, the channel having a first opening at the first end and a second opening at the second end, the cladding layer having a first index of refraction; and an optically conductive core material in the channel having a second index of refraction greater than the first index of refraction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 112 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein light conducted through the optically conductive core material has a mode change from the first opening to the second opening of ##EQU6## where Δ mode is the mode change of the light, M out is an output mode of the light, M in is an input mode of the light, α is an angle at which the channel is tapered, W o is a first width of the second opening, W i is a second width of the first opening, and θ i is an input half-angle of the light into the optical waveguide, wherein the second width is greater than the first width.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 2, wherein the mode change is less than 1.0.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 2, wherein the optical waveguide is substantially adiabatic.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 60 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 1 wherein the channel has a length defined as ##EQU7## where L is the length, W i is a first width of the first opening, W o is a second width of the second opening, the first width greater than the second width, and α is an angle at which the channel is tapered.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 5, wherein α is less than approximately 1 degree.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 45 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein light conducted through the optically conductive core material from the first opening to the second opening has an increase in beam divergence of greater than approximately 5 degrees at the second opening compared to the first opening.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 7, wherein the beam divergence of the light at the second opening is at least approximately 12 degrees.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 59 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein light conducted through the optically conductive core material and conducted out the second opening has an output half-angle less than a critical angle defined as ##EQU8## where θ c is the critical angle, n 1 , is the second index of refraction, and n 2 is the first index of refraction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the optically conductive core material is a light conducting adhesive.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the first and second openings are circular and wherein the channel is conical.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The optical waveguide of claim 1 wherein light conducted through the channel has a greater beam divergence angle at the second opening than at the first opening and an output of a light generating source.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The optical waveguide of claim 12 wherein the taper is constant from the first end to the second end.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 112 words

An optical system comprising: a cladding layer having a first portion coupled to a second portion to form a channel therebetween, the channel having an opening at a first end of the cladding layer and an exit at a second end of the cladding layer, the opening wider than the exit, and the channel having a constant taper from the first end to the second end; an optically conductive core material in the channel; and a light generation source coupled to the channel wherein light from the light generation source has a larger beam divergence angle at the exit of the cladding layer than at an output of the light generation source.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 112 words

An optical system comprising: a cladding layer having a first portion coupled to a second portion to form a channel therebetween, the channel having an opening at a first end of the cladding layer and an exit at a second end of the cladding layer, the opening wider than the exit, and the channel having a constant taper from the first end to the second end; an optically conductive core material in the channel; and a light generation source coupled to the channel wherein light from the light generation source has a larger beam divergence angle at the exit of the cladding layer than at an output of the light generation source.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The optical system according to claim 14 wherein a first width of the opening is greater than a second width of the exit, wherein the opening and the exit are round, and wherein the channel is tubular.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The optical system according to claim 14 wherein a mode change of light conducted through the optically conductive core material is fractional.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

The optical system according to claim 14 wherein the optical system is adiabatic.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 12 words

The optical system of claim 14 wherein the cladding layer is opaque.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 155 words

A optical system for increasing beam divergence of a light beam, the optical system comprising: a light generating source; a first opaque cladding layer; a second opaque cladding layer, the first and second opaque cladding layers having a first index of refraction, the first and second opaque cladding layers coupled together to form a plurality of conical channels, each of the plurality of conical channels having a round opening with a first width and a round exit with a second width, the first width greater than the second width, at least one of the round openings coupled to the light source, each of the plurality of conical channels tapered from the round opening to the round exit at an angle wherein the taper is constant; and a light conducting adhesive in the plurality of conical channels and having a second index of refraction, the second index of refraction greater than the first index of refraction.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 155 words

A optical system for increasing beam divergence of a light beam, the optical system comprising: a light generating source; a first opaque cladding layer; a second opaque cladding layer, the first and second opaque cladding layers having a first index of refraction, the first and second opaque cladding layers coupled together to form a plurality of conical channels, each of the plurality of conical channels having a round opening with a first width and a round exit with a second width, the first width greater than the second width, at least one of the round openings coupled to the light source, each of the plurality of conical channels tapered from the round opening to the round exit at an angle wherein the taper is constant; and a light conducting adhesive in the plurality of conical channels and having a second index of refraction, the second index of refraction greater than the first index of refraction.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 12 words

The optical system according to claim 19, wherein the angle is constant.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The optical system according to claim 20, wherein the angle is less than approximately 1 degree and wherein the round exit and the round opening are circular.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

The optical system according to claim 19, wherein a mode change of light conducted through the light conducting adhesive is less than 0.05 and wherein the optical system is substantially adiabatic.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

The optical system of claim 19 wherein light conducted through at least one of the plurality of conical channels has a greater beam divergence at its respective round exit than at its respective round opening and an output of the light generating source.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-06-01	2001-12-01	2002-06-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-06-01	2005-12-01	2006-06-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-06-01	2009-12-01	2010-06-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical waveguide

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