Circular channel waveguides and lenses formed from rectangular channel waveguides
US5064266A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 5, 1990 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4204
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed whereby channel waveguides are formed to have substantially circular cross-section shapes to more closely match the circular cross-section shape of a typical optical fiber. Rectangular cross-section channel waveguides are heated to create surface tension between the core and cladding layers resulting in the rectangular shape changing to a substantially circular shape. An over cladding layer may be added to the circular cross-section waveguide. A method is also disclosed whereby monolithic lenses may be formed from the same circular cross-section waveguides on a common substrate, simultaneously, to provide substantially perfectly aligned lenses and waveguides that are not prone to alignment and bonding problems of discrete lenses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.