Method for making planar optical waveguides
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of making a planar optical waveguide device comprising the steps ofa) providing a silicon substrate having a coefficient of thermal expansion and a major surface;
- b) forming on the major surface a layer of glass to act as an undercladding;
c) forming on said layer of glass a particulate layer of a glass comprising SiO2 and boron, said particulate layer predominantly comprising glass particles having diameters less than about a micron;
d) consolidating the particulate layer by a heat treatment comprising low temperature viscous sintering at 950°
C. or less for a period in excess of eight hours and sufficient to produce an essentially bubble free consolidated particulate layer;
e) making an optical waveguide core from the consolidated particulate layer; and
f) forming on said optical waveguide core a layer of glass to act as an overcladding.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the invention a planar waveguide device is fabricated by providing a substrate with an undercladding, depositing a particulate layer of core glass on the undercladding, consolidating the particulate layer by low temperature viscous sintering, patterning the consolidated layer to form an optical waveguide and applying an overcladding. The glass layers can be deposited quickly and economically by slurry dipping, centrifuging or electrophoresis. In a preferred embodiment the substrate is silicon, and the core glass is sodium-boro-silicate.
99 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method of making a planar optical waveguide device comprising the steps of
a) providing a silicon substrate having a coefficient of thermal expansion and a major surface; -
b) forming on the major surface a layer of glass to act as an undercladding; c) forming on said layer of glass a particulate layer of a glass comprising SiO2 and boron, said particulate layer predominantly comprising glass particles having diameters less than about a micron; d) consolidating the particulate layer by a heat treatment comprising low temperature viscous sintering at 950°
C. or less for a period in excess of eight hours and sufficient to produce an essentially bubble free consolidated particulate layer;e) making an optical waveguide core from the consolidated particulate layer; and f) forming on said optical waveguide core a layer of glass to act as an overcladding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification