Microminiature optical waveguide structure and method for fabrication
Abstract
A method for manufacturing low-cost, nearly circular cross section waveguides comprises starting with a substrate material that a molten waveguide material can not wet or coat. A thin layer is deposited of an opposite material that the molten waveguide material will wet and is patterned to describe the desired surface-contact path pedestals for a waveguide. A waveguide material, e.g., polymer or doped silica, is deposited. A resist material is deposited and unwanted excess is removed to form pattern masks. The waveguide material is etched away to form waveguide precursors and the masks are removed. Heat is applied to reflow the waveguide precursors into near-circular cross-section waveguides that sit atop the pedestals. The waveguide material naturally forms nearly circular cross sections due to the surface tension effects. After cooling, the waveguides will maintain the round shape. If the width and length are the same, then spherical ball lenses are formed. Alternatively, the pedestals can be patterned to taper along their lengths on the surface of the substrate. This will cause the waveguides to assume a conical taper after reflowing by heat. 32 figs.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 321217
- Patent Number(s):
- 5846694
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-600,571
- Assignee:
- Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 8 Dec 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; WAVEGUIDES; MASKING; CIRCULAR CONFIGURATION; FABRICATION; OPTICAL SYSTEMS; MINIATURIZATION; POLYMERS; SILICA; DOPED MATERIALS
Citation Formats
Strand, O T, Deri, R J, and Pocha, M D. Microminiature optical waveguide structure and method for fabrication. United States: N. p., 1998.
Web.
Strand, O T, Deri, R J, & Pocha, M D. Microminiature optical waveguide structure and method for fabrication. United States.
Strand, O T, Deri, R J, and Pocha, M D. Tue .
"Microminiature optical waveguide structure and method for fabrication". United States.
@article{osti_321217,
title = {Microminiature optical waveguide structure and method for fabrication},
author = {Strand, O T and Deri, R J and Pocha, M D},
abstractNote = {A method for manufacturing low-cost, nearly circular cross section waveguides comprises starting with a substrate material that a molten waveguide material can not wet or coat. A thin layer is deposited of an opposite material that the molten waveguide material will wet and is patterned to describe the desired surface-contact path pedestals for a waveguide. A waveguide material, e.g., polymer or doped silica, is deposited. A resist material is deposited and unwanted excess is removed to form pattern masks. The waveguide material is etched away to form waveguide precursors and the masks are removed. Heat is applied to reflow the waveguide precursors into near-circular cross-section waveguides that sit atop the pedestals. The waveguide material naturally forms nearly circular cross sections due to the surface tension effects. After cooling, the waveguides will maintain the round shape. If the width and length are the same, then spherical ball lenses are formed. Alternatively, the pedestals can be patterned to taper along their lengths on the surface of the substrate. This will cause the waveguides to assume a conical taper after reflowing by heat. 32 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}