Single-mode polymer waveguide connector
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsTymon Barwicz, Hidetoshi Numata, Yoichi Taira
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Waveguide connectors and methods of forming the same include heating a polymer waveguide having one or more waveguide cores and alignment features to a first temperature. A ferrule having alignment features is heated to the first temperature, the ferrule having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the polymer waveguide. The alignment features of the polymer waveguide align with the alignment features of the ferrule when the polymer waveguide and the ferrule are heated to the first temperature. The polymer waveguide is positioned on the ferrule. The alignment features of the polymer waveguide are bonded to the corresponding alignment features of the ferrule.
Claims17
A method for assembling a waveguide connector, comprising:
- heating a polymer waveguide comprising one or more waveguide cores and alignment features to a first temperature;
- heating a ferrule comprising alignment features to the first temperature, the ferrule having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the polymer waveguide, wherein the alignment features of the polymer waveguide align with the alignment features of the ferrule when the polymer waveguide and the ferrule are heated to the first temperature;
- positioning the polymer waveguide on the ferrule;
- and
- bonding the alignment features of the polymer waveguide to the corresponding alignment features of the ferrule.
A method for assembling a waveguide connector, comprising:
- heating a polymer waveguide comprising one or more waveguide cores, alignment grooves, one or more topclad portions, and an underclad portion, to a first temperature;
- heating a ferrule comprising alignment studs to the first temperature, the ferrule having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the polymer waveguide, wherein the alignment grooves of the polymer waveguide align with the alignment studs of the ferrule when the polymer waveguide and the ferrule are heated to the first temperature;
- positioning the polymer waveguide on the ferrule;
- and
- bonding the alignment features of the polymer waveguide to the corresponding alignment features of the ferrule while applying pressure on the polymer waveguide with a lid positioned directly on the polymer waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.