Abstract: The subject invention relates to the fabrication of micro-optical structures in a glass-like transparent material using conventional photolithography processing steps. The glass-like material is a spin-on glass (SOG) material, which behaves like a negative-tone photoresist, and has high quality optical properties similar to those of glass. The present invention can take advantage of gray scale photomasks to illuminate the uncured spin-on material with various illumination intensities, thus resulting in variations in resultant film thickness of the SOG material after the chemical development step. This results in micro-optical structures that can be fabricated with the desired shapes, depending on the transmission characteristics of each region of the gray scale photomask.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controlling and/or enhancing the light emission and/or amplitude of a light-emitting device comprising depositing on the surface of such light-emitting device a spin-on glass material at a process temperature of less than 225° C., wherein the spin-on glass material is directly patternable as a negative photoresist. The spin-on glass material is directly patternable using standard photolithography methods and may be used for the purpose of patterning mechanical stand-offs for light emitting device-packaging purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state laser comprising: a) a semiconductor pump laser, b) a lens integrated on the surface of said semiconductor pump laser, c) a packaging material consisting essentially of a spin-on glass material, wherein the spin-on glass material is processable at a process temperature of less than 225° C., and d) a lasing material layer having a highly reflective coating in both sides. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a solid-state laser, which process comprises applying spin-on glass material onto semiconductor wafers having VCSEL pump lasers using different coating methods, such as spin coating, and curing the glass film layer at temperatures <225° C.

Abstract: The present invention claims a unique way to pattern an optical microstructure immediately on top of a mass produced light-emitting device, such as a light emitting diode (LED), a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a photo detector, for the purpose of efficient coupling of light to or from the active region of the light-emitting device. The invention addresses the need to effectively and efficiently extract light from the light-emitting optoelectronic device. Finally, the invention allows for the optical microstructure to be deposited and patterned directly over the light-emitting device contained on a suitable substrate, such as a wafer.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device having a flexible substrate and an optical interconnect (i.e. waveguide) comprising a sol-gel based material formed on the substrate. The sol-gel based waveguide is capable of being integrated into an all-optical system and provides for greater interconnect distance and lower signal loss. Other sol-gel based optical devices, such as filters, optical source, detectors, sensors, switches and the like, will be implemented in conjunction with the sol-gel based waveguides to provide for an integrated optical system. Methods of formulating the sol-gel based material and methods for fabricating the sol-gel based devices are also provided.

Abstract: A pollutant emissions monitoring system and a method of measuring pollutant emissions, particularly fly ash, of gas passing through stacks of coal-fired boilers. An all optical-based emission monitor has an opacity monitor and a flow rate monitor connected to a remote data processing facility by a single fiber optic cable. A timing/calibration wheel assembly initiates measurement cycles and calibrates the opacity monitor. A first beamsplitter polarizes a collimated light beam from a light source into two collimated light beams, an upstream and a downstream beam. A second beamsplitter receives the collimated light beams, reflects a portion of the light beams to the flow rate monitor and passes the remainder of the light beams to a retro-reflector.

Abstract: The fiberoptic interferometer includes a broadband light source which is selected to illuminate tissue of predetermined organ with light having a wavelength within a predetermined range of wavelengths. Within the predetermined range of wavelengths, the attenuation characteristics of tissue of the predetermined organ define a region of minimum attenuation upon illumination with light having a first wavelength. As a result, the fiberoptic interferometer can precisely determine the optical properties of the tissue and can therefore identify the tissue by comparing the interferometric signal produced upon illumination of the tissue sample with predetermined interferometric signals corresponding to illumination of different types of tissue of the predetermined organ with light having the first wavelength. The fiberoptic interferometer can also include a light source which includes wavelength selection means for controllably selecting the predetermined wavelength of light emitted by the light source.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing signal frequency shifts by stimulated Brillouin scattering comprises a pair of optical fibres (112,113) or a single high birefringence fibre which are illuminated by a laser beam to generate two back-scattered signals by stimulated Brillouin scattering and a mixer (117) to combine the two back-scattered signals to produce a beat frequency from the combined signals.