Method of fabricating polymer optical channel waveguides with multiple types of waveguide core materials

A planar optical waveguide comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first cladding disposed on the substrate;
• a first core disposed on a first portion of the first cladding, the first core being constructed from a first core polymer material;
• a second core disposed on a second portion of the first cladding, the second core being constructed from a second core polymer material;
• and
• a second cladding disposed on the first core, the second core, and a remaining portion of the first cladding;
• wherein the waveguide is manufactured by:
• providing the substrate;
• disposing the first cladding layer over the substrate;
• disposing the first core polymer material over the first cladding layer;
• forming the first core from the first core polymer material, the first core being in a plane;
• disposing the second polymer material over the first cladding layer;
• forming the second core from the second core polymer material, the second core being approximately in the plane of the first core;
• and
• disposing the second top cladding layer over the first core, the second core, and an exposed portion of the first cladding layer.

A method of manufacturing a planar optical waveguide comprising:

• providing a substrate;
• disposing a first cladding layer over the substrate;
• disposing a first core polymer material over the first cladding layer;
• forming a first core from the first core polymer material, the first core being in a plane;
• disposing a second core polymer material over the first cladding layer;
• forming a second core from the second core polymer material, the second core being approximately in the plane of the first core;
• and
• disposing a top cladding layer over the first core, the second core, and an exposed portion of the first cladding layer.