# US 2010/0166362 A1 · Optical waveguide, optical module, method of producing optical module, and method of producing optical waveguide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166362 A1 - Document ID: US20100166362A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/430,698 - Filed: 2009-04-27 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-25 - Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Akira FUJII; Toshihiko Suzuki; Keishi Shimizu; Shigemi Ohtsu; Kazutoshi Yatsuda; Masahiro Igusa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166362A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/4214: {the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/4239: {Adhesive bonding; Encapsulation with polymer material} - G02B 6/4246: {Bidirectionally operating package structures} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An optical waveguide comprising: a waveguide core through which light propagates; a cladding that surrounds the waveguide core and has a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the waveguide core; a metal layer that is formed on a surface of at least one end of the optical waveguide in a longitudinal direction, the surface being inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a channel that is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the cladding, the outer surface forming an acute angle with the inclined surface, and the channel being positioned such that light entering the optical waveguide adjacent the channel is reflected by the inclined surface into the waveguide core. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical waveguide comprising: a waveguide core through which light propagates; a cladding that surrounds the waveguide core and has a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the waveguide core; a metal layer that is formed on a surface of at least one end of the optical waveguide in a longitudinal direction, the surface being inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a channel that is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the cladding, the outer surface forming an acute angle with the inclined surface, and the channel being positioned such that light entering the optical waveguide adjacent the channel is reflected by the inclined surface into the waveguide core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the channel is formed so as to extend to at least one edge in a width direction of the outer surface of the cladding that forms an acute angle with the inclined surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is formed from a flexible material. ### Claim 4 An optical module comprising an optical waveguide, an optical device, and a photo-curable adhesive, the waveguide comprising: a waveguide core through which light propagates; a cladding that surrounds the waveguide core and has a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the waveguide core; a metal layer that is formed on a surface of at least one end of the optical waveguide in a longitudinal direction, the surface being inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a channel that is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the cladding, the outer surface forming an acute angle with the inclined surface, and the channel being positioned such that light entering the optical waveguide adjacent the channel is reflected by the inclined surface into the waveguide core, and the photo-curable adhesive filling the channel and bonding the optical waveguide and the optical device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The optical module according to claim 4, wherein the channel is formed so as to extend to at least one edge in a width direction of the outer surface of the cladding that forms an acute angle with the inclined surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The optical module according to claim 4, wherein the photo-curable adhesive is formed from an ultraviolet curable resin. ### Claim 7 A method of producing an optical module, the method comprising: producing an optical waveguide comprising a waveguide core through which light propagates; a cladding that surrounds the waveguide core and has a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the waveguide core; a metal layer that is formed on a surface of at least one end of the optical waveguide in a longitudinal direction, the surface being inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a channel that is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the cladding, the outer surface forming an acute angle with the inclined surface, and the channel being positioned such that light entering the optical waveguide adjacent the channel is reflected by the inclined surface into the waveguide core, contacting an optical device to a portion of the optical waveguide at which the channel is formed, and filling the channel with a photo-curable adhesive by capillary action during the contacting, and curing the photo-curable adhesive by exposing it to light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the channel is formed so as to extend to least one edge in a width direction of the outer surface of the cladding that forms an acute angle with the inclined surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the photo-curable adhesive is formed from an ultraviolet curable resin. ### Claim 10 A method of producing an optical waveguide, the method comprising: producing the optical waveguide comprising a waveguide core through which light propagates; a cladding that surrounds the waveguide core and has a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the waveguide core; and a metal layer that is formed on a surface of at least one end of the optical waveguide in a longitudinal direction, the surface being inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and forming a channel by cutting a portion of an outer surface of the cladding by contacting a rotating blade thereto, the outer surface forming an acute angle with the inclined surface, and the channel being positioned such that light entering the optical waveguide adjacent the channel is reflected by the inclined surface into the waveguide core. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the channel is formed so as to extend to least one edge in a width direction of the outer surface of the cladding that forms an acute angle with the inclined surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the optical waveguide is formed from a flexible material.