AAO-based light guiding structure and fabrication thereof

• US 10,197,750 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology Incorporated (Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dobrinsky, Alexander, Shur, Michael, Gaska, Remigijus
• Primary Examiner(s): Bedtelyon, John
• Application Number:
  US15/854,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12035 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12104 Mirror; Reflectors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0041 provided in the bulk of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0076 Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/102 for infrared and ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/136 by etching
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4239 Adhesive bonding; Encapsulation with polymer material

Abstract

A light guiding structure is provided. The structure includes an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) layer and a fluoropolymer layer located immediately adjacent to a surface of the AAO layer. Light propagates through the AAO layer in a direction substantially parallel to the fluoropolymer layer. An optoelectronic device can be coupled to a surface of the AAO layer, and emit/sense light propagating through the AAO layer. Solutions for fabricating the light guiding structure are also described.

Claims

1. A structure including:

a reflective layer;

a first anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) layer including a first surface located adjacent to the reflective layer;

a transparent material located adjacent to a second surface of the AAO layer that is opposite the first surface; and

an optoelectronic device coupled to the structure, wherein the optoelectronic device is positioned to emit light directed toward the first AAO layer.

2. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a coupler coupling the optoelectronic device to a side of the first AAO layer.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the reflective layer has a variable spatial reflectivity.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the reflective layer includes at least one Bragg reflector mirror.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the transparent material is configured to scatter light emitted from the structure.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the transparent material includes a plurality of scattering elements formed on an external surface of the transparent material.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the reflective film has a reflectivity that decreases with distance away from the optoelectronic device.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein the reflective film has a transmissivity that increases with distance away from the optoelectronic device.

9. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a second AAO layer located adjacent to an opposing side of the transparent material as the first AAO layer.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein the first and second AAO layers provide a graded index of refraction.

11. A light guiding structure comprising:

a transparent film including a plurality of optical elements, wherein the transparent film is formed of fluoropolymer;

a first anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) layer located adjacent to the transparent film; and

an optoelectronic device coupled to a side of the structure, wherein the optoelectronic device is positioned to emit light directed toward the first AAO layer.

12. The structure of claim 11, further comprising a reflective layer located adjacent to an opposite side of the transparent film as the first AAO layer.

13. The structure of claim 12, further comprising a gap layer located between the reflective layer and the transparent film.

14. The structure of claim 11, wherein the plurality of optical elements include surface patterning.

15. The structure of claim 11, wherein the plurality of optical elements include roughness elements.

16. The structure of claim 11, further comprising a transparent scattering layer located adjacent to an opposite side of the first AAO layer as the transparent film.

17. The structure of claim 11, wherein the plurality of optical elements have a spacing along a lateral direction of travel for the light that is less than an average attenuation length for the light in the light guiding structure.

18. A light guiding structure comprising:

a transparent film formed of fluoropolymer;

a first anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) layer located immediately adjacent to the transparent film; and

an ultraviolet optoelectronic device coupled to the structure, wherein the ultraviolet optoelectronic device is positioned to emit ultraviolet light directed toward the first AAO layer.

19. The structure of claim 18, further comprising a reflective layer located immediately adjacent to an opposite side of the first AAO layer as the transparent film.

20. The structure of claim 18, wherein the transparent material is configured to scatter ultraviolet light emitted from the structure.