METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE

• US 20100032853A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Naitou, Ryusuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/1.240
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/1219 Polymerisation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/122 Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/132 by deposition of thin films
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/138 by using polymerisation

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide includes: step A of forming a first resin layer 23 by allowing a first liquid-state resin to flow to be extended in a manner so as to bury and enclose cores 22; step B of forming a second resin layer 25 by allowing a second liquid-state resin having a viscosity higher than that of the first liquid-state resin to flow to be extended on the first resin layer 23, after or while the first resin layer is heated; and step C of forming an over-cladding layer by curing the first resin layer 23 and the second resin layer 25.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide comprising a plurality of cores and an over-cladding layer covering the plurality of cores, wherein the method includes:

step A of forming a first resin layer by allowing a first liquid-state resin to flow to be extended in a manner so as to bury and enclose the plurality of cores;

step B of forming a second resin layer by allowing a second liquid-state resin having a viscosity higher than that of the first liquid-state resin to flow to be extended on the first resin layer, after or while the first resin layer is heated; and

step C of forming an over-cladding layer by curing the first resin layer and the second resin layer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second resin layer has a thickness greater than the thickness of the first resin layer.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first resin layer and the second resin layer comprise an active energy-ray curable resin.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in steps B and C, either one or both of a light-releasing portion and a light-incident portion of the ends of the over-cladding layer are molded into lens shapes.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein, in steps B and C, either one or both of a light-releasing portion and a light-incident portion of the ends of the over-cladding layer are molded into lens shapes.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the lens-shaped portion molded at each end of the over-cladding layer has an elongated lens shape formed into virtually a ¼

arc shape in the cross section thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the lens-shaped portion molded at each end of the over-cladding layer has an elongated lens shape formed into virtually a ¼

arc shape in the cross section thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide.