Curved graded-index waveguides and methods of making the same
AssigneeFacebook Technologies, LLC
InventorsAndrew John Ouderkirk, Sheng Ye, Tingling Rao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.
Claims20
A polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide, the polymeric waveguide having a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and the polymeric waveguide having a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface, wherein the polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.
A method of making a curved polymeric waveguide having a graded refractive index profile with a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness of the polymeric waveguide, the method comprising:
- forming a stacked structure comprising at least a layer of a first resin and a layer of a second resin, the first resin having a first refractive index when polymerized and the second resin having a second refractive index when polymerized that is different than the first refractive index;
- allowing the first resin and the second resin to diffuse into one another to form a composite resin structure in which a ratio of the second resin to the first resin in the composite resin varies in a thickness direction of the stacked structure;
- polymerizing the composite resin structure;
- and
- forming the polymerized composite resin structure into a pre-defined curved shape.
A method of making a curved waveguide having a graded refractive index profile with a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness of the curved waveguide, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate in a deposition chamber;
- introducing a monomer containing vapor into the deposition chamber and depositing material from the monomer containing vapor onto a surface of the substrate over a period of time;
- controllably varying a ratio of an amount of a first monomer to an amount of a second monomer in the monomer containing vapor over the period of time, such that the composition of the material that is deposited on the substate changes over the period of time,
- wherein the first monomer has a first refractive index, when polymerized, and the second monomer has a second refractive index, when polymerized, the second refractive index being different than the first refractive index;
- and
- polymerizing the material deposited on the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.