Polymer optical waveguide

US7113681B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The University of Sydney · AU

Inventors

• Simon Fleming · Bundaberg, AU
• Ian Bassett · Fawn Drive, AU
• Mark Sceats · Sydney, AU
• Martijn Van Eijkelenborg · Sydney, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 20, 2001
• Grant date: Sep 26, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 6, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/02371
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical waveguide in the form of an optical fibre (10) having at least one longitudinally extending light guiding core region (11) composed at least in part of a polymeric material, a longitudinally extending core-surrounding region (12) composed of a polymeric material, and a plurality of light confining elements (15), such as, for example, channel-like holes, located within the core surrounding region. The light confining elements extend in the longitudinal direction of the core region and are distributed about the core region, and at least a majority of the light confining elements having a refractive index less than that of the polymeric material from which the core-surrounding region is composed. A preform for use in manufacture of the optical waveguide is also disclosed.