Waveguide with a three dimensional lens
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a bottom cladding layer;
a photopolymer material formed on the bottom cladding layer, the photopolymer material being patterned to form a waveguide on the bottom cladding layer and having a first height with an integrated optical lens formed on the bottom cladding layer and having a second height, wherein the second height is greater than the first height;
wherein the optical lens has a directionally collimating lens curve that has an outline that is substantially defined within at least a plane that is coplanar with the top surface of the bottom cladding layer, wherein the light rays transmitted from the waveguide are collimated such that substantially all of the light rays emitted through the directionally collimating lens curve are parallel to each other and travel in a single direction; and
a top cladding layer formed on at least the waveguide.
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Abstract
Optical transmission structures include a waveguide and an optical lens wherein the optical lens has a sufficiently large thickness to allow the formation of a curved front lens surface that collimates transmitted light rays so that they travel within a plane that is coplanar to a working surface. The present invention also relates to a technique for manufacturing the optical transmission structure, which involves the use of a photopolymer material. The optical transmission structure can be implemented in various systems such as a system for optical data input.
52 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a bottom cladding layer; a photopolymer material formed on the bottom cladding layer, the photopolymer material being patterned to form a waveguide on the bottom cladding layer and having a first height with an integrated optical lens formed on the bottom cladding layer and having a second height, wherein the second height is greater than the first height; wherein the optical lens has a directionally collimating lens curve that has an outline that is substantially defined within at least a plane that is coplanar with the top surface of the bottom cladding layer, wherein the light rays transmitted from the waveguide are collimated such that substantially all of the light rays emitted through the directionally collimating lens curve are parallel to each other and travel in a single direction; and a top cladding layer formed on at least the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus, comprising:
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a bottom cladding layer; a photopolymer material formed on the bottom cladding layer, the photopolymer material being patterned to form a waveguide on the bottom cladding layer and having a first height and being patterned to form an optical lens on the bottom cladding layer such that the lens is integrally and continuously formed with the waveguide such that the lens includes a second height that is greater than the first height; and a top cladding layer formed on at least the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification