REWRITABLE PHOTOREFRACTIVE POLYMER LAYER FOR OPTICAL FIBER COUPLING
First Claim
1. A method to communicatively couple an optical fiber to an optical element using a polymer layer, the method comprising:
- applying light from a light source to the optical fiber to initiate a photorefractive effect in the polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer is photorefractive and located between the optical fiber and the optical element;
forming a path of high refractive index in the polymer layer through the photorefractive effect,wherein the path of high refractive index provides a communicative coupling between the optical element and the optical fiber,the communicative coupling is an optical coupling facilitating optical communication between the optical fiber and the optical element;
andenabling the path of high refractive index to dissipate by terminating the light from the light source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Technologies are generally described to communicatively couple an optical fiber to an optical element using a polymer layer. An optical fiber may be coupled to an optical element, such as an optical waveguide or another optical fiber, using a layer of rewritable photorefractive polymer positioned between the optical fiber and the optical element. Light from a light source may be applied to the optical fiber to initiate a transient photorefractive effect in the polymer layer facilitating corrections of misalignment. A path of high refractive index may be formed in the polymer layer, where the path of high refractive index communicatively couples the optical fiber to the optical element reducing alignment concerns and increasing alignment tolerances of optical elements. In some examples, the path of high refractive index may be re-established by rewriting the polymer layer through another application of light from the light source if the communicative coupling is disrupted.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method to communicatively couple an optical fiber to an optical element using a polymer layer, the method comprising:
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applying light from a light source to the optical fiber to initiate a photorefractive effect in the polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer is photorefractive and located between the optical fiber and the optical element; forming a path of high refractive index in the polymer layer through the photorefractive effect, wherein the path of high refractive index provides a communicative coupling between the optical element and the optical fiber, the communicative coupling is an optical coupling facilitating optical communication between the optical fiber and the optical element; and enabling the path of high refractive index to dissipate by terminating the light from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14, 16)
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2. (canceled)
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7-8. -8. (canceled)
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10-13. -13. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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17. An apparatus configured to form an optical coupling between an optical fiber and an optical element, the apparatus comprising:
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a connector configured to mechanically couple the optical fiber and the optical element; and a polymer layer supported by the connector and configured to be located between the optical fiber and the optical element when the optical fiber and optical element are mechanically coupled by the connector, wherein the polymer layer includes a photorefractive polymer with transient photo-refractive properties such that a path of high refractive index is formed in the polymer layer through a photorefractive effect in response to passage of light from a light source through the polymer layer between the optical fiber and the optical element, and the path of high refractive index is dissipated in the polymer layer in response to termination of the light from the light source, wherein the path of high refractive index communicatively couples the optical element and the optical fiber when the path of high refractive index is formed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27)
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19. (canceled)
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21. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
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28. An electronic device capable of optical communication, the electronic device comprising:
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a circuit board comprising an optical component and an optical receptacle; and a layer of rewritable photorefractive polymer attached to the optical receptacle, and configured such that a path of high refractive index is formed in the layer of the polymer through a photorefractive effect in response to application of light to the layer of the polymer, and the path of high refractive index is dissipated in the layer of the polymer in response to termination of the light to the layer of the polymer, wherein the path of high refractive index through the layer of the polymer provides a communicative coupling to the optical component. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 32)
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31. (canceled)
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33-36. -36. (canceled)
Specification