US5170448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical waveguide apparatus and method for partially collecting light
Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
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Filing: 1992-01-06
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Granted: 1992-12-08
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Expires: 2012-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for partially collecting light from a polymer waveguide (11, 56). A polymer waveguide (11, 56) is provided, through which a light signal (17) is traveling. A faceted groove (28) is placed in the polymer waveguide (11, 56), thereby reflecting a controllable portion of the light (22) that is traveling through the polymer waveguide (11, 56) from the facet (21) at an oblique angle. Typically, the reflected light is directed into a photodetector (24, 41), which is included into an integrated circuit (52, 53) on a substrate (51).
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Ackley
- 👤 Michael S. Lebby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/12004; G02B6/122; G02B6/1221; G02B2006/12083; G02B2006/12104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for partially collecting light from a waveguide comprising: providing a polymer waveguide, through which a light signal moves; placing a faceted groove in the polymer waveguide, thereby reflecting a portion of the light that is propagating through the waveguide from at least one facet at an oblique angle from the polymer waveguide; and filling the faceted groove with a material that has a different refractive index from the polymer waveguide, thereby controlling an amount of light collected by the faceted groove.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for partially collecting light from a waveguide comprising: providing a polymer waveguide, through which a light signal moves; placing a faceted groove in the polymer waveguide, thereby reflecting a portion of the light that is propagating through the waveguide from at least one facet at an oblique angle from the polymer waveguide; and filling the faceted groove with a material that has a different refractive index from the polymer waveguide, thereby controlling an amount of light collected by the faceted groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the filling of the faceted groove is accomplished by selecting one of the following materials polymers, glasses, or silicones.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a detector into which the reflected light is directed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
An optical partial collector for reflecting a portion of a light signal from a waveguide comprising: a core having at least one surface; a cladding region surrounding the core, thereby producing a waveguide; and a V-groove with a first facet and a second facet filled with a material that has a different refractive index from the waveguide which is inset into at least a portion of the cladding region, thereby reflecting a portion of light from the waveguide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
An optical partial collector for reflecting a portion of a light signal from a waveguide comprising: a core having at least one surface; a cladding region surrounding the core, thereby producing a waveguide; and a V-groove with a first facet and a second facet filled with a material that has a different refractive index from the waveguide which is inset into at least a portion of the cladding region, thereby reflecting a portion of light from the waveguide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical partial collector of claim 4 wherein at least one of the facets is adjusted to an angle with a range from 25 to 65 degrees perpendicular to the core.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical partial collector of claim 5 wherein the angle is substantially adjusted to 45 degrees.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for varying an amount of light collected from an optical polymer waveguide comprising: providing the optical polymer waveguide, through which a light signal is propagating; positioning a groove with at least one facet intersects the propagating light signal at a predetermined depth, wherein an amount of the light signal that is reflected off the facet is controlled by the depth of the groove; selecting a reflective material to coat the at least one facet, thereby changing the amount of the light signal that is reflected off the at least one facet; and filling the faceted groove with a material that has a different refractive index from the polymer waveguide, thereby controlling an amount of light collected by the faceted groove.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for varying an amount of light collected from an optical polymer waveguide comprising: providing the optical polymer waveguide, through which a light signal is propagating; positioning a groove with at least one facet intersects the propagating light signal at a predetermined depth, wherein an amount of the light signal that is reflected off the facet is controlled by the depth of the groove; selecting a reflective material to coat the at least one facet, thereby changing the amount of the light signal that is reflected off the at least one facet; and filling the faceted groove with a material that has a different refractive index from the polymer waveguide, thereby controlling an amount of light collected by the faceted groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the selecting of a material is one from the following aluminum, silicon, nitride, silicon organic glass, silicon dioxide, or in combination thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
An intercommunication pathway for integrated circuits comprising: a substrate; a first integrated circuit, wherein a first optical detector is integrated in the first integrated circuit mounted on the substrate; a second integrated circuit, wherein a second optical detector is integrated in the second integrated circuit mounted on the substrate; and an optical waveguide interconnecting the first optical detector of the first integrated circuit with the second optical detector of the second integrated circuit, wherein the waveguide uses at least a partial facet to filled with a material that has different refractive index from the waveguide reflect an optical signal into the first and the second detector of the first and second integrated circuits, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
An intercommunication pathway for integrated circuits comprising: a substrate; a first integrated circuit, wherein a first optical detector is integrated in the first integrated circuit mounted on the substrate; a second integrated circuit, wherein a second optical detector is integrated in the second integrated circuit mounted on the substrate; and an optical waveguide interconnecting the first optical detector of the first integrated circuit with the second optical detector of the second integrated circuit, wherein the waveguide uses at least a partial facet to filled with a material that has different refractive index from the waveguide reflect an optical signal into the first and the second detector of the first and second integrated circuits, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The intercommunication pathway of claim 9 wherein the waveguide is made of a polymer material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The intercommunication pathway of claim 9 wherein the material used for filling the partial facet is selected from one of the following materials polymer, glass, or silicones.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-08 | 1996-06-08 | 1996-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-08 | 2000-06-08 | 2000-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-08 | 2004-06-08 | 2004-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |