Optical interface device having a curved waveguide using laser writing and methods of forming
AssigneeCorning Optical Communications LLC
InventorJames Scott Sutherland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical interface device for optically connecting photonic devices to optical device along with methods of making. The method includes providing a glass support member that is either monolithic or laminated. A laser beam is used to write cores in the body of the support member. The support member includes a bend section and the cores generally follow the bend section and serve to define curved optical waveguides. The cores provide strong out-of-plane optical confinement, thereby allowing for strong bends and therefore a compact design for the optical interface device.
Claims18
A method of forming an optical Interface device for optically connecting at least one photonic device to at least one optical device via at least one optical fiber, comprising:
- providing a support member having glass body with a refractive index nb, a proximal end, a distal end and an outer surface, wherein the glass body includes a bend section that includes a curved portion of the outer surface, with the curved portion of the outer surface being interfaced with either air or a dielectric coating having a refractive index n1<nb;
- laser writing at least one core in the glass body, the at least one core having a refractive index nc>nb and an outer edge closest to the outer surface and that resides within 10 microns of the curved portion of the outer surface;
- and
- wherein the at least one core defines at least one curved optical waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.