Coating of optical waveguides

US10436985B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Steffen Bohme · Jena, DE
• Thomas Schreiber · Berlin, DE
• Gerd Harnisch · Jena, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2012
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2019
• Expiry date: Dec 21, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T156/10
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an optical waveguide (1), the surface of which is at least partly coated with a coating material. The coating material contained in a target (4) is removed using laser radiation (6) of a processing laser or converted into another aggregate state. The coating material is then deposited on the surface of the waveguide (1) and forms a coating thereon, said coating modifying the light guidance. It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method for producing optical waveguides, in which guidance of undesired electromagnetic radiation and/or guidance of radiation in undesired areas of the waveguide is avoided. To this effect, the present invention proposes that the laser radiation (7) reflected from the target (4) or transmitted through the target heats-up the waveguide (1), said laser radiation (6) being polarized and impinging the target (4) at a specified angle (α) between 10° and 80° relative to the surface normal.