Planar lenses for integrated optics

Details Planar lenses for integrated optics Planar lenses for integrated optics

2005-10-25

2009-06-09

Healy, Brian (Department: 2883)

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

Input/output coupler

C385S031000, C385S034000, C385S035000, C385S129000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07546009

ABSTRACT:
Planar lenses for integrated optics applications, in particular for use in optical touch screen sensors are disclosed. The disclosed planar lenses include a slab waveguide and an optical waveguide, preferably formed in unitary fashion, wherein the slab waveguide has a curved end face to focus light into or out of the optical waveguide, and wherein at least one additional lens is included within the slab waveguide. In one aspect of this disclosure, the additional lens is a diverging lens. In a second aspect the additional lens is a converging lens. The additional lens may match the acceptance angle of the optical waveguide to the curved end face of the slab waveguide. Alternatively, it may improve the tolerance of the planar lens to design or assembly errors and/or temperature variations. Preferably, the planar lenses are composed of a photo-patternable polymer, and the additional lenses are composed of air.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3976364 (1976-08-01), Lindemann et al.
patent: 4119362 (1978-10-01), Holzman
patent: 5914709 (1999-06-01), Graham et al.
patent: 6181842 (2001-01-01), Francis et al.
patent: 6351260 (2002-02-01), Graham et al.
patent: 6594430 (2003-07-01), Rausch et al.
patent: 6800724 (2004-10-01), Zha et al.
patent: 6818721 (2004-11-01), Zha et al.
patent: 2003/0235047 (2003-12-01), Choi et al.
patent: 2004/0201579 (2004-10-01), Graham
patent: 2005/0089298 (2005-04-01), Maxwell et al.
patent: 2006/0008199 (2006-01-01), Glebov et al.
patent: 0058707 (1984-05-01), None
patent: 0557713 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 221324 (1990-01-01), None
patent: 56078814 (1981-06-01), None
patent: 56078814 (1981-06-01), None
patent: 2003190571 (2004-03-01), None
PCT International Search Report, dated Jan. 13, 2006, 5 pages.
Australian Patent Office International-Type Search Report, dated Mar. 14, 2005, 3 pages.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Planar lenses for integrated optics does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Planar lenses for integrated optics, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Planar lenses for integrated optics will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-4083339