Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers for use in ultraviolet illumination applications and which have a uniform color gradient that is angularly independent are disclosed herein along with methods for making such fibers. The light diffusing fibers are composed of a silica-based glass core that is coated with a number of layers including a scattering layer.

Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers for use in illumination applications and which have a uniform color gradient that is angularly independent are disclosed herein along with methods for making such fibers. The light diffusing fibers are composed of a silica-based glass core that is coated with a number of layers including both a scattering layer and a phosphor layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hermetically sealed package is provided, using a laser to heat a frit, disposed in a pattern between two substrates, such that the heated frit forms a hermetic seal which connects the substrates.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing photoreactions in a photoreactive material using scattered actinic light from at least one light-diffusing optical fiber are disclosed. The systems and methods include disposing a light-diffusing optical fiber relative to the photoreactive material. The light-diffusing optical fiber has a glass core, a surrounding cladding, and nano-sized structures situated either within the glass core or at the core-cladding boundary. The nano-sized structures are configured to scatter guided actinic light that travels in the light-diffusing optical fiber from an actinic light source. The scattered actinic light is provided throughout the photoreactive material and causes a photoreaction throughout the photoreactive material.

Abstract: An illumination system that includes at least one light-diffusing optical fiber is disclosed. The illumination system includes at least one low-scatter light-conducting optical fiber that optically couples the at least one light-diffusing optical fiber to at least one light source. The light-diffusing optical fiber includes a light-source fiber portion having a length over which scattered light is continuously emitted. The light-source fiber portion can be bent, including wound into a coil shape. The light-diffusing optical fiber includes a plurality of nano-sized structures configured to scatter guided light traveling within the light-diffusing optical fiber out of an outer surface of the fiber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hermetically sealed package is provided, the method comprising the steps of: using a laser to heat a frit, disposed in a pattern between two substrates, such that the heated frit forms a hermetic seal which connects the substrates and further comprising: directing the laser to enter the frit pattern, then to trace the frit pattern, then to retrace a portion of the frit pattern, and then to exit the frit pattern; and selecting an initial laser power which, when the laser enters the frit pattern, is insufficient to heat the frit to form a hermetic seal; then increasing the laser power over a first section of the frit pattern to a target laser power at least sufficient to heat the frit to form a hermetic seal; and then decreasing the laser power over a second section of the frit pattern until the laser power is insufficient to heat the frit to form a hermetic seal before the laser exits the frit pattern.

Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers and methods for producing light diffusing optical fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a light diffusing optical fiber includes a core portion formed from silica glass and comprising a plurality of helical void randomly distributed in the core portion of the optical fiber and wrapped around the long axis of the optical fiber. A pitch of the helical voids may vary along the axial length of the light diffusing optical fiber in order to achieve the desired illumination along the length of the optical fiber. A cladding may surround the core portion. Light guided by the core portion is scattered by the helical voids radially outward, through the cladding, such that the light diffusing optical fiber emits light with a predetermined intensity over an axial length of the light diffusing optical fiber, the light diffusing optical fiber having a scattering induced attenuation loss greater than about 0.2 dB/m at a wavelength of 550 nm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling light into a transparent sheet. The systems include a light source and a light-diffusing optical fiber optically coupled to the light source. The light-diffusing optical fiber has a core, a cladding and a length, with at least a portion of the core comprising randomly arranged voids configured to provide substantially continuous light emission from the core and out of the cladding along at least a portion of the length, and into the transparent sheet.

Abstract: Light-coupling systems and methods that employ light-diffusing optical fiber are disclosed. The systems include a light source and a light-diffusing optical fiber optically coupled thereto. The light-diffusing optical fiber has a core, a cladding and a length. At least a portion of the core comprises randomly arranged voids configured to provide substantially spatially continuous light emission from the core and out of the cladding along at least a portion of the length. A portion of the light-diffusing optical is embedded in an index-matching layer disposed adjacent a lower surface of a transparent sheet. Light emitted by the light-diffusing optical fiber is trapped within the transparent sheet and index-matching layer by total internal reflection and is scattered out of the upper surface of the transparent sheet by at least one scattering feature thereon.

Abstract: Methods are provided for laser patterning a partial depth surface portion of a glass body by controlling the amount of stress induced in the glass body. A laser beam is directed along an impinged path on the surface portion of the glass body to heat the glass body to form a swell. The glass body is then cooled and etched. The surface portion of the glass body is heated above the strain point at a heating rate HR to form a swell. The heating rate HR is a function of a target temperature T and an exposure time of the output laser beam. The exposure time is controlled to reach a target temperature above the softening point of the glass body and does not require a power density that would lead to laser ablation of the surface portion. The surface portion is cooled below the strain point to induce regions of localized stress. The unablated surface portion is etched while in a state of laser-induced localized stress to form a patterned glass body.

Abstract: A laser assisted frit sealing method is described herein that is used to manufacture a glass package having a first glass plate (with a relatively high CTE of about 80-90×10?7° C.?1), a second glass plate, and a frit (with a CTE that is at least about 35×10?7° C.?1), where the frit forms a seal (e.g., hermetic seal) which connects the first glass plate to the second glass plate.

Abstract: A glass package is disclosed comprising a first substrate and a second substrate, where the substrates are attached in at least two locations, at least one attachment comprising a frit, and at least one attachment comprising a polymeric adhesive and wherein the frit comprises a glass portion comprising: a base component comprising and at least one absorbing component. Also disclosed is a method of sealing a light emitting display device comprising providing a light emitting layer, a first substrate and a second substrate, where a frit is deposited between the substrates and a polymeric adhesive is deposited either between the substrates or around the edge of the device, and where the frit is sealed with a radiation source and the polymeric adhesive is cured.

Abstract: An illumination system generating light having at least one wavelength within 200 nm a plurality of nano-sized structures (e.g., voids). The optical fiber coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core and a cladding. The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core-cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface. The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light-source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range.

Abstract: A method for sealing a liquid within a glass package and the resulting sealed glass package are described herein where the sealed glass package can be, for example, a dye solar cell, an electro-wetting display or an organic emitting light diode (OLED) display.

Abstract: The disclosure teaches methods of forming at least one bump in a glass substrate having a surface and a body portion. The method includes performing a first irradiation of a portion of the glass substrate to form in the glass surface the at least one bump having bump height. The method also includes performing thermal annealing of at least a portion of the glass substrate that includes the first irradiated portion. The method then includes performing a second irradiation of the bump to increase the bump height.

Abstract: Raised features are formed on a transparent substrate having absorption of less than about 20% within a processing wavelength range. A portion of the substrate is irradiated with a light beam to increase the absorption of the irradiated portion of the substrate. Continued irradiation causes local heating and expansion of the substrate so as to form a raised feature on the substrate surface.

Abstract: Packages for elements, e.g., OLEDs, that are temperature sensitive are provided. The packages have a first glass substrate (12), a second glass substrate (16), and a wall (14) that separates the first and second substrates (12,16) and hermetically seals at least one temperature sensitive element (18,28,36) between the substrates (12,16). The wall (14) comprises a sintered frit and at least a portion of the wall is laser sealed to the second substrate (16) by melting a glass component of the sintered frit. The minimum width (40) of the laser-sealed portion of the wall (14) at any location along the wall (14) is greater than or equal to 2 millimeters so as to provide greater hermeticity and strength to the package. The laser sealing is performed without substantially degrading the temperature sensitive element(s) (18,28,36) housed in the package.

Abstract: A glass package is disclosed comprising a first substrate and a second substrate, where the substrates are attached in at least two locations, at least one attachment comprising a frit, and at least one attachment comprising a polymeric adhesive and wherein the frit comprises a glass portion comprising: a base component comprising and at least one absorbing component. Also disclosed is a method of sealing a light emitting display device comprising providing a light emitting layer, a first substrate and a second substrate, where a frit is deposited between the substrates and a polymeric adhesive is deposited either between the substrates or around the edge of the device, and where the frit is sealed with a radiation source and the polymeric adhesive is cured.

Abstract: Packages for elements, e.g., OLEDs, that are temperature sensitive are provided. The packages have a first glass substrate (12), a second glass substrate (16), and a wall (14) that separates the first and second substrates (12,16) and hermetically seals at least one temperature sensitive element (18,28,36) between the substrates (12,16). The wall (14) comprises a sintered frit and at least a portion of the wall is laser sealed to the second substrate (16) by melting a glass component of the sintered frit. The minimum width (40) of the laser-sealed portion of the wall (14) at any location along the wall (14) is greater than or equal to 2 millimeters so as to provide greater hermeticity and strength to the package. The laser sealing is performed without substantially degrading the temperature sensitive element(s) (18,28,36) housed in the package.

Abstract: A glass package is disclosed comprising a first substrate and a second substrate, where the substrates are attached in at least two locations, at least one attachment comprising a frit, and at least one attachment comprising a polymeric adhesive and wherein the frit comprises a glass portion comprising: a base component comprising and at least one absorbing component. Also disclosed is a method of sealing a light emitting display device comprising providing a light emitting layer, a first substrate and a second substrate, where a frit is deposited between the substrates and a polymeric adhesive is deposited either between the substrates or around the edge of the device, and where the frit is sealed with a radiation source and the polymeric adhesive is cured.