Optical waveguides – Planar optical waveguide
Patent
1997-07-02
2000-08-01
Bovernick, Rodney
Optical waveguides
Planar optical waveguide
385130, 385132, 385 49, G02B 610, G02B 630
Patent
active
060978716
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a method of making an optical device comprising a substrate on which are integrated a layered optical waveguide component comprising a polymeric guiding layer sandwiched between two deflection layers of a lower refractive index than the guiding layer, and optical fibre ends, the optical fibre ends being positioned in grooves.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical fibre ends attached to the integrated optic device are usually referred to as "pigtails," and the process of providing a waveguide component with such pigtails is referred to as "pigtailing." The invention also pertains to the pigtailed optical waveguide devices so obtainable and to the free-standing, flexible waveguide sheets used in making them.
In general, flexible waveguides are known. e.g., JP 04/232906 discloses a flexible multilayer light guiding sheet suitable for use in signal transmission, e.g., with light splitting such as optical data linking for cars.
JP 05/281428 pertains to a flexible optical interconnection board comprising a flexible optical waveguide mounted onto a base plate that can have various shapes (e.g. curved).
From JP 04/274402 it is known to provide a flexible waveguide by coating a polyamic acid solution onto a substrate, irradiating it so as to produce a precured film, removing said film from the substrate, and curing it so as to form a polyimide waveguide. A polyimide film having a lower index of refraction than the polyimide waveguide film is used to coat at least part of an upper layer and a lower layer of the waveguide film.
It is known to produce polymeric flexible waveguides having a refractive index pattern, see JP 52/138 146 which teaches forming a polymeric film, diffusing a monomer in it, and polymerizing the monomer in selected areas. Comparable techniques have been disclosed in JP 78/026813 and JP 54/088144.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,215 it is known to provide an optical interconnection device comprising straight and curved segments, in which the optical interconnection is in the form of fibres (laid in a layered flexible structure).
These references do not specifically address the problem of pigtailing polymeric optical waveguide components. This continues to be one of the principal challenges when making optical waveguide devices. Making a proper connection with a minimum loss of light (coupling loss) between the guiding layer of the waveguide component and the core of the optical fibre is a cumbersome, and generally expensive process step. This especially holds for coupling with single mode optical fibres.
It is known to make use of substrates (usually of silicon) having V-shaped grooves in which fibre ends can be placed. The V-shape of the grooves allows the fibres to be properly aligned vertically (i.e., in respect of the height of the guiding layer) as well as laterally (i.e., in respect of the width of waveguiding channels made in the guiding layer). After the fibres have been placed in the V-grooves they are usually fixed using glue, solder, or the like.
A method as indicated above, employing such a V-grooved substrate, is known from GB 2 000 877. The method disclosed bonding the end-portions of a plurality of optical fibres to V-shaped grooves provided on a transparent substrate by an adhesive; casting a polymer solution onto the fixed optical lead fibres-containing substrate, and evaporating the solvent. Thus, the optical lead fibres are embedded in a polymer layer. Said polymer layer, which serves as the guiding layer of the optical waveguide component, contains, int.al., a photopolymerizable monomer. By selectively activating this monomer, the refractive index of the guiding layer can be selectively decreased. Thus, waveguide channels can be formed in the guiding layer by irradiating the surrounding material. These channels can be made to be aligned with the positions of the embedded ends of the optical fibres. On the guiding layer a low refractive index coating is appl
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De Dobbelaere Peter Martin Cyriel
Mohlmann Gustaaf Ronald
Van Daele Peter Paul
Bovernick Rodney
Greene Kevin E.
Kang Juliana K.
Lacasse Randy W.
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