Patent US5946433A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5946433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for producing a photocoupler and a photocoupler produced by the same
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-20
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2017-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing a photocoupler includes the steps of: forming a waveguide structure on a substrate; forming a photoresist layer having a groove on the waveguide structure; mounting a prism on the photoresist layer so as to partially cover the groove; bonding the prism on the waveguide structure by injecting an adhesive into the groove; and removing the photoresist layer. The groove has a T-shaped pattern including a transverse section extending in a first direction and a longitudinal section extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The transverse section has a first width in the second direction which is smaller than a second length of a bonding face of the prism in the second direction. The prism is bonded to the waveguide structure through the bonding face. The longitudinal section has a second width in the first direction which is smaller than a first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction. The transverse section has a first length in the first direction which is greater than the first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction. The longitudinal section has a second length in the second direction which is greater than the second length of the bonding face of the prism in the second direction. The adhesive is injected into an end portion of the longitudinal section which is distanced away from the transverse section, the end portion not being covered by the prism.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroyuki Yamamoto
- 👤 Yoshio Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/34; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A method for producing a photocoupler, comprising the steps of: forming a waveguide structure on a substrate; forming a photoresist layer having a groove on the waveguide structure; mounting a prism on the photoresist layer so as to partially cover the groove; bonding the prism on the waveguide structure by injecting an adhesive into the groove; and removing the photoresist layer, wherein: the groove has a T-shaped pattern including a transverse section extending in a first direction and a longitudinal section extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the transverse section has a first width in the second direction which is smaller than a second length of a bonding face of the prism in the second direction, the prism being bonded to the waveguide structure through the bonding face, and the longitudinal section has a second width in the first direction which is smaller than a first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, the transverse section has a first length in the first direction which is greater than the first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, and the longitudinal section has a second length in the second direction which is greater than the second length of the bonding face of the prism in the second direction, and the adhesive is injected into an end portion of the longitudinal section which is distanced away from the transverse section, the end portion not being covered by the prism.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
251 words
A method for producing a photocoupler, comprising the steps of: forming a waveguide structure on a substrate; forming a photoresist layer having a groove on the waveguide structure; mounting a prism on the photoresist layer so as to partially cover the groove; bonding the prism on the waveguide structure by injecting an adhesive into the groove; and removing the photoresist layer, wherein: the groove has a T-shaped pattern including a transverse section extending in a first direction and a longitudinal section extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the transverse section has a first width in the second direction which is smaller than a second length of a bonding face of the prism in the second direction, the prism being bonded to the waveguide structure through the bonding face, and the longitudinal section has a second width in the first direction which is smaller than a first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, the transverse section has a first length in the first direction which is greater than the first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, and the longitudinal section has a second length in the second direction which is greater than the second length of the bonding face of the prism in the second direction, and the adhesive is injected into an end portion of the longitudinal section which is distanced away from the transverse section, the end portion not being covered by the prism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 1, wherein the prism has a trapezoidal cross section, and the step of injecting the adhesive includes the step of pressing a top face of the prism to secure the prism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 2, wherein the step of pressing a top face of the prism to secure the prism is performed using a metal probe having a diameter sufficiently small with respect to the size of the prism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 2, wherein the top face of the prism is optically polished.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 3, wherein the top face of the prism is optically polished.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 1, wherein the bonding face of the prism is treated by plasma before the prism is bonded to the waveguide structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 1, wherein the bonding face of the prism and a bonding face of the waveguide structure corresponding to the bonding face of the prism are both treated by plasma before the prism is bonded to the waveguide structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is photocurable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for producing a photocoupler according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide structure includes a waveguide layer and a gap layer formed on the waveguide layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
A photocoupler, comprising: a waveguide structure provided on a substrate; and a prism bonded on the waveguide structure by an adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer has a T-shaped pattern including a transverse section extending in a first direction and a longitudinal section extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the transverse section has a first width in the second direction which is smaller than a second length of a bonding face of the prism in the second direction, the prism being bonded to the waveguide structure through the bonding face, and the longitudinal section has a second width in the first direction which is smaller than a first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, and the transverse section has a first length in the first direction which is greater than the first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, and the longitudinal section has a second length in the second direction which is greater than the second length of the bonding face of the prism in the second direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
184 words
A photocoupler, comprising: a waveguide structure provided on a substrate; and a prism bonded on the waveguide structure by an adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer has a T-shaped pattern including a transverse section extending in a first direction and a longitudinal section extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the transverse section has a first width in the second direction which is smaller than a second length of a bonding face of the prism in the second direction, the prism being bonded to the waveguide structure through the bonding face, and the longitudinal section has a second width in the first direction which is smaller than a first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, and the transverse section has a first length in the first direction which is greater than the first length of the bonding face of the prism in the first direction, and the longitudinal section has a second length in the second direction which is greater than the second length of the bonding face of the prism in the second direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photocoupler according to claim 10, wherein the adhesive layer is formed of a photocurable adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A photocoupler according to claim 10, wherein the prism has a trapezoidal cross section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photocoupler according to claim 12, wherein a top face of the prism is optically polished.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photocoupler according to claim 10, wherein the bonding face of the prism is treated by plasma.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A photocoupler according to claim 10, wherein the bonding face of the prism and a bonding face of the waveguide structure corresponding to the bonding face of the prism are both treated by plasma.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photocoupler according to claim 10, wherein the waveguide structure includes a waveguide layer and a gap layer provided on the waveguide layer.
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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) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |