Flexible optical waveguides and methods for manufacturing flexible optical waveguides

US11385400B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jesse J. Wheeler · Revere, US
• Joseph J. Register · Cambridge, US
• Parshant Kumar · Cambridge, US
• Carlos A. Segura · Ipswich, US
• Charles A. Lissandrello · Newton, US
• John J. LeBlanc · North Andover, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 13, 2017
• Grant date: Jul 12, 2022
• Expiry date: Nov 13, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2006/12138
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The material stack of the present disclosure can be used for fabricating optical waveguides that are thin and flexible, and that can bend light around small turns. The stack of materials can include a polymer core and a cladding, which together can create a large difference in refractive index. As a result, light can remain within the core even when bent around radii where standard glass fibers could fail.