Optical waveguide encapsulation

• US 5,367,597 A
• Filed: 04/16/1993
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Palmskog, Goran
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALMER, PHAN T H
• Application Number:
  US08/047,564
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/43, 385/48, 385/122, 385/124, 385/125, 385/128, 385/129, 385/130, 385/141, 385/142, 385/147, 359/900, 250/227.24
• US Class Current: 385/129
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/048 characterised by the cladding material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12076 Polyamide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/56 Optics using evanescent waves, i.e. inhomogeneous waves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02033 Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material G02B1/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1221 made from organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/42 Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4212 the intermediate optical element being a coupling medium interposed therebetween, e.g. epoxy resin, refractive index matching material, index grease, matching liquid or gel

Abstract

An optical waveguide encapsulation for facilitating the tapping of light signals. The optical waveguide includes an optical medium, preferably a polyimide. An encapsulating material comprises a medium which matches the index of the light conducting core of the waveguide. The refractive index of the light conducting core is higher than the refractive index of the encapsulating material, and the encapsulating material is an elastic material.

Claims

1. An encapsulation device of optical waveguides, said device comprising:

an underlayer; and

at least one optical waveguide, supported by said underlayer, said at least ..one optical waveguide including a light conducting core, a coating which has a refractive index which is lower than the refractive index of the light conducting core and a layer including a material with a refractive index which is lower than the refractive index of said light conducting core of said waveguide, said layer extending over at least a part of said surface of the underlayer,

wherein the light conducting core extends over said layer and is adjacent to a surface of said layer, and

said coating covers the light conducting core and is adjacent to said surface of the layer next to said light conducting core, and

the underlayer comprises a disc and said layer is on said disc.

2. An encapsulation device according to claim 1, wherein said disc is made of silicone and said layer is made of silicone dioxide.

3. An encapsulation device according to claim 2, wherein said coating is made of an elastic material.

4. An encapsulation device according to claim 3, wherein the elastic material is a silicone elastomer.

5. An encapsulation device according to claim 1, wherein said coating is made of an elastic material.

6. An encapsulation device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic material is a silicone elastomer.

7. An encapsulation device of optical waveguides, said device comprising:

an underlayer; and

at least one optical waveguide, supported by said underlayer, said at least one optical waveguide including a light conducting core, a coating which has a refractive index which is lower than the refractive index of the light conducting core and a layer including a material with a refractive index which is lower than the refractive index of said light conducting core of said waveguide, said layer extending over at least a part said surface of the underlayer,

wherein the light conducting core extends over said layer and is adjacent to a surface of said layer, and

said coating covers the light conducting core and is adjacent to said surface of the layer next to said light conducting core, and

said light conducting core is made of a photo-patternable polymeric material.

8. An encapsulation device according to claim 7, wherein said polymeric material is a polyimid.

9. An encapsulation device according to claim 8, wherein said coating is made of an elastic material.

10. An encapsulation device according to claim 9, wherein the elastic material is a silicone elastomer.

11. An encapsulation device according to claim 7, wherein said coating is made of an elastic material.

12. An encapsulation device according to claim 11, wherein the elastic material is a silicone elastomer.

13. An encapsulation device of optical waveguides, said device comprising:

an underlayer; and

at least one optical waveguide, supported by said underlayer, said at least one optical waveguide including a light conducting core, a coating which has a refractive index which is lower than the refractive index of the light conducting core and a layer including a material with a refractive index which is lower than the refractive index of said light conducting core of said waveguide, said layer extending over at least a part of said surface of the underlayer,

wherein the light conducting core extends over said layer and is adjacent to a surface of said layer, and

said coating covers the light conducting core and is adjacent to said surface of the layer next to said light conducting core, and

said coating is made of an elastic material.

14. An encapsulation device according to claim 13, wherein the elastic material is a silicone elastomer.