Abstract: The methods disclosed herein include forming an expanded core in an optical fiber with a glass core having a core dopant and a core outer surface, and a glass cladding immediately surrounding the core and having a flat glass-portion surface closest to the core outer surface at a first core spacing S1. The methods include applying heat to a section of the optical fiber to cause the glass core to expand toward the flat glass-portion surface due to thermal diffusion of the core dopant. The methods also include terminating the application of heat to define the expanded core in the heated section of the optical fiber. The expanded core defines an evanescent coupling region having a second core spacing 0?S2<S1 and an adiabatic transition region between the core and the evanescent coupling region of the expanded core.

Abstract: The channel waveguides disclosed herein have bend compensation in the form of at least one compensated bend section. The channel waveguides are formed in a glass-based substrate having a glass-based matrix. The channel waveguide has an waveguide IOX region with a straight section and a bend section. The waveguide IOX region at the bend section is superimposed with a quasi-linear modifying IOX region to form a compensated bend IOX region that defines the compensated bend section. The compensated bend section has a reduced amount of optical loss as compared to if the compensated bend section had a refractive index profile that was the same as the straight section. Methods of forming the compensated bend sections for the channel waveguides are also disclosed.

Abstract: The channel waveguides disclosed herein have bend compensation in the form of at least one compensated bend section. The channel waveguides are formed in a glass-based substrate having a glass-based matrix. The channel waveguide has an waveguide IOX region with a straight section and a bend section. The waveguide IOX region at the bend section is superimposed with a quasi-linear modifying IOX region to form a compensated bend IOX region that defines the compensated bend section. The compensated bend section has a reduced amount of optical loss as compared to if the compensated bend section had a refractive index profile that was the same as the straight section. Methods of forming the compensated bend sections for the channel waveguides are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber to waveguide coupler is provided that includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The cladding includes an inner cladding and an outer cladding with a polymer. At least one of the core and inner cladding defines a substantially flat surface parallel with an axis of the optical fiber. The optical fiber defines a stripped portion substantially free of outer cladding configured to expose the at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding. A waveguide is configured to be evanescently coupled with the exposed at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding.

Abstract: A light guide plate suitable for use in a liquid crystal display device, the light guide plate comprising a glass plate and a light coupler bonded to a edge surface of the light guide plate. Also disclosed is a backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device employing the light guide plate, and a display device employing the backlight unit.

Abstract: A quasi-single-mode (QSM) optical fiber includes a core and a cladding surrounding the core. The core includes a centerline and an outer edge. The cladding includes an interior edge and an exterior edge. The cladding has a cladding outer diameter defined by the exterior edge of the cladding. The cladding outer diameter may be in the range of greater than 170 ?m to about 200 ?m. The QSM fiber has a cabled cutoff wavelength that is greater than about 1530 nm. The core and the cladding support a fundamental mode LP01 and a higher-order mode LP11. The fundamental mode LP01 has an effective area Aeff>150 ?m2.

Abstract: The evanescent optical coupler is constituted by an IOX waveguide and an optical fiber. The IOX waveguide is formed in a glass substrate and has a tapered section that runs in an axial direction. The IOX waveguide supports a waveguide fundamental mode having an waveguide effective index NW0 that varies within a range ?NW0 as a function of the axial direction. The IOX waveguide can also support a few higher-order modes. The optical fiber supports a fiber fundamental mode having a fiber effective index NF0 that falls within the waveguide effective index range ?NW0 of the waveguide fundamental mode of the tapered section of the IOX waveguide. A portion of the optical fiber is interfaced with the tapered section of the IOX waveguide to define a coupling region over which evanescent optical coupling occurs between the optical fiber and the IOX waveguide.

Abstract: Embodiments of an optical assembly and methods of making it are provided. The optical assembly includes a first waveguide, a second waveguide, and an optical adhesive for transmitting optical signals between the first waveguide and the second waveguide. The adhesive includes about 20% to about 60% by volume of first monomers. The first monomers have at least two acrylate or methacrylate groups. The optical adhesive also includes about 40% to about 80% by volume of second monomers. The second monomers have at least one fluorine atom and at least one acrylate or methacrylate group. The optical adhesive has a refractive index of from about 1.40 to about 1.55, and in the temperature range of about 10° C. to about 85° C., the refractive index of the optical adhesive has a thermal drift dn/dT of less than the absolute magnitude of |4×10?4/° C.| and the sign of that value is negative.

Abstract: Methods for coupling of waveguides with dissimilar mode field diameters, and related apparatuses, components, and systems are disclosed. In one example, a waveguide coupling assembly includes an input waveguide having a first mode, and a transition waveguide having a first transition waveguide section, a second transition waveguide section, and a tapered section. The first transition waveguide section has a second mode and is disposed proximate to the input waveguide such that a phase matching condition is achieved between the input waveguide and the first transition waveguide section, thereby evanescently coupling the input waveguide to the first transition waveguide section of the transition waveguide. The tapered section is optically connected between the first transition waveguide section and the second transition waveguide section, such that the second mode of the first transition waveguide section is converted to the third mode of the second transition waveguide section by the tapered section.

Abstract: A method of bonding an optical fiber in a ferrule includes disposing the ferrule at least partially in a conductive assembly such that a conductive element of the conductive assembly contacts a portion of the ferrule. Energy delivered to the bonding agent via thermal transfer from the conductive element brings the bonding agent to a securing temperature. Cooling the bonding agent to secure the optical fiber in the bore of the ferrule. Related systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A light guide plate suitable for use in a liquid crystal display device, the light guide plate comprising a glass plate and a light coupler bonded to a edge surface of the light guide plate. Also disclosed is a backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device employing the light guide plate, and a display device employing the backlight unit.

Abstract: A light diffusing component and a method of making is disclosed. The light diffusing component may include a substrate sheet and at least one scattering layer. The substrate sheet may have a back side and an edge. The edge may be configured to receive a light source. The at least one scattering layer may have a plurality of light scattering centers etched into at least a portion of the back side of the glass sheet. The scattering centers may have an increased density as the distance from the edge increases. The scattering centers may have a diameter of less than about 30 microns, a maximum depth of about 10 micron or less, and a roughness between about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm, for example.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (i) a core comprising silica and having a maximum relative refractive index delta ?1MAX; and LP01 effective area >100 ?m2 at 1550 nm; (ii) an inner cladding surrounding the core and having a minimum relative refractive index delta ?2MIN and ?coreMAX>?2MIN; (iii) an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding and comprising a first outer cladding portion with a maximum refractive index ?3A such that ?3A>?2MIN; and another outer cladding portion surrounding the first outer cladding portion with a maximum refractive index delta ?3B wherein with a maximum refractive index delta ?3B wherein ?3B>?3A, said another portion being the outermost portion of the outer cladding; and (iv) a coating layer surrounding the outer cladding, and in contact with said another outer cladding portion, the coating layer having a relative refractive index delta ?C wherein ?C>?3B.

Abstract: A quasi-single-mode optical fiber with a large effective area is disclosed. The quasi-single-mode fiber has a core with a radius greater than 5 ?m, and a cladding section configured to support a fundamental mode and a higher-order mode. The fundamental mode has an effective area greater than 170 ?m2 and an attenuation of no greater than 0.17 dB/km at a wavelength of 1530 nm. The higher-order mode has an attenuation of at least 1.0 dB/km at the wavelength of 1530 nm. The quasi-single-mode optical fiber has a bending loss of less than 0.02 dB/turn for a bend diameter of 60 mm for a wavelength of 1625 nm.

Abstract: Optical transmission systems and methods are disclosed that utilize a QSM optical fiber with a large effective area and that supports only two modes, namely the fundamental mode and one higher-order mode. The optical transmission system includes a transmitter and a receiver optically coupled by an optical fiber link that includes at least one section of the QSM optical fiber. Transmission over optical fiber link gives rise to MPI, which is mitigated using a digital signal processor. The QSM optical fiber is designed to have an amount of DMA that allows for the digital signal processor to have reduced complexity as reflected by a reduced number of filter taps as compared to if the DMA were zero.

Abstract: An optical fiber connection is provided that includes a first optical fiber defining a first exterior surface and a first effective area. The first fiber defines a first tapered region tapering from a first nominal fiber diameter to a first tapered diameter. A second optical fiber has a second exterior surface and a second effective area less than the first effective area. The second fiber defines a second tapered region tapering from a second nominal fiber diameter to a second tapered diameter and a fiber splice optically coupling the first tapered region of the first fiber to the second tapered region of the second fiber. The first and second tapered regions taper such that the first and second exterior surfaces have a variance from a Gaussian function of less than 25% of the Gaussian function at each point along the first and second exterior surfaces.

Abstract: A fiber to waveguide coupler is provided that includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The cladding includes an inner cladding and an outer cladding with a polymer. At least one of the core and inner cladding defines a substantially flat surface parallel with an axis of the optical fiber. The optical fiber defines a stripped portion substantially free of outer cladding configured to expose the at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding. A waveguide is configured to be evanescently coupled with the exposed at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding.

Abstract: Methods for coupling of waveguides with dissimilar mode field diameters, and related apparatuses, components, and systems are disclosed. In one example, a waveguide coupling assembly includes an input waveguide having a first mode, and a transition waveguide having a first transition waveguide section, a second transition waveguide section, and a tapered section. The first transition waveguide section has a second mode and is disposed proximate to the input waveguide such that a phase matching condition is achieved between the input waveguide and the first transition waveguide section, thereby evanescently coupling the input waveguide to the first transition waveguide section of the transition waveguide. The tapered section is optically connected between the first transition waveguide section and the second transition waveguide section, such that the second mode of the first transition waveguide section is converted to the third mode of the second transition waveguide section by the tapered section.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (i) a core comprising silica and having a maximum relative refractive index delta ?1MAX; and LP01 effective area>100 ?m2 at 1550 nm; (ii) an inner cladding surrounding the core and having a minimum relative refractive index delta ?2MIN and ?coreMAX>?2MIN; (iii) an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding and comprising a first outer cladding portion with a maximum refractive index ?3A such that ?3A>?2MIN; and another outer cladding portion surrounding the first outer cladding portion with a maximum refractive index delta ?3B wherein with a maximum refractive index delta ?3B wherein ?3B>?3A, said another portion being the outermost portion of the outer cladding; and (iv) a coating layer surrounding the outer cladding, and in contact with said another outer cladding portion, the coating layer having a relative refractive index delta ?C wherein ?C>?3B.

Abstract: A method of bonding an optical fiber in a ferrule includes disposing the ferrule at least partially in a conductive assembly such that a conductive element of the conductive assembly contacts a portion of the ferrule. Energy delivered to the bonding agent via thermal transfer from the conductive element brings the bonding agent to a securing temperature. Cooling the bonding agent to secure the optical fiber in the bore of the ferrule. Related systems are also disclosed.