Abstract: In the organic waveguide of the present invention, on a buffer layer and a core section made of organic polymer which are formed on a substrate, there is provided a masking clad which serves as a mask when the organic polymer is processed by dry etching and which constitutes an upper clad, and an overclad made of inorganic dielectric such as silicon oxide is formed around the core section.

Abstract: An echelon diffraction grating which has excellent heat resistance and can be produced at a low cost and an optical waveguide which has high heat resistance, small absorption of a communication wavelength of a near infrared range, and satisfies reliability and a low loss at an optical communication range. The echelon diffraction grating comprises a substrate, and an organopolysiloxane film having a maximum thickness of 1 &mgr;m to 1 mm formed on the surface of the substrate and has a plurality of steps having a predetermined width of 1 to 500 &mgr;m and a predetermined height of 5 to 500 &mgr;m formed on the organopolysiloxane film, and the organopolysiloxane film contains dimethylsiloxane and phenyl(or substituted phenyl)siloxane as essential ingredients.

Abstract: Optical fibers suitable for transmission of optical signals and comprising a core that contains polycarbonate are disclosed. The polycarbonate is characterized in its low content of insoluble particles.

Abstract: There is provided a material which can give a high elasticity and heat resistance to an optical waveguide member by photo-curing while maintaining transparency in a near infrared region and further makes it possible to use a film forming process by a spin coating method and a process for producing a waveguide by photolithograph, to obtain a waveguide having a large area and to produce an optical waveguide having reduced water absorption, and further there can be provided an optical waveguide member and an optical waveguide device. Namely, there are provided a fluorine-containing optical waveguide material comprising a curable fluorine-containing prepolymer (I) which is a non-crystalline polymer having a fluorine content of not less than 25% by weight and has a carbon-carbon double bond in a polymer side chain and/or at an end of a polymer trunk chain, an optical waveguide member which is a cured article of the optical waveguide material and an optical waveguide device comprising the optical waveguide member.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical waveguide structure includes the step of introducing light into a photo-curable liquid resin. The liquid resin can be a mixture of two types of photo-curable liquid resins having different curing initiation wavelengths and different refractive indexes. The method can include dipping one end of a fiber into the liquid mixture. Light having a wavelength &lgr;1 can be radiated from the tip end of the optical fiber in order to cure one of the photo-curable liquid resins thereby forming a waveguide. Light having a different wavelength &lgr;2 can be radiated from an area surrounding the waveguide so as to cure the liquid mixture and form a cladding portion around the waveguide.

Abstract: Optical waveguides interconnect optical information processing devices, or connect such devices with other optical communication links such as glass optical fibers. Fluoropolymers consisting of alternating perfluorocyclobutane and aryl ether linkages possess suitable properties for optical waveguides and other devices due to tunability in optical properties of the copolymers. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) copolymer may be employed in solutions that exhibit a high solids content. Such solutions show useful physical properties for optical waveguide devices since the solutions are capable of achieving single step film thicknesses, when applied to a substrate, of greater than about 0.6 microns, and sometimes may achieve a thickness of 10 microns or more.

Abstract: A polarization control device, comprising: a liquid crystal device containing a liquid crystal material with an optical anisostropy with substantially homeotropically aligned molecules when in a neutral electrical field state; a plurality of electrodes for applying an electrical field to change an orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal material from their alignment in the neutral electrical filed state; a circuit for applying a voltage to the electrodes; and an optical system for directing light through the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A planar lightwave circuit comprises a waveguide that is thermally-compensating. The waveguide comprises a cladding and a core that comprises two regions running lengthwise through the core. One region has a negative thermo-optic coefficient; the other region has a positive thermo-optic coefficient.

Abstract: An organic polymeric optical waveguide and methods of making same are described herein. The waveguide can be used in an integrated optical waveguide device. The organic polymeric material contains styrenic monomers and can incorporate styrenic or epoxy crosslinking groups.

Abstract: The invention provides a multifunctional optical switch that among other things, optionally can function as an optical wavelength division multiplexer, wavelength division demultiplexer, add-drop multiplexer and/or inter-connect device. The invention further provides novel methods of manufacturing the optical switch. The optical switch can comprise a single layer, and optimally includes of a plurality of layers which each comprise an optical nonlinear second-order polymer. The optical nonlinear second-order polymer present in each layer differs from that present in any other layer in terms of its absorption maximum (i.e., due to possession of different chromophores).

Abstract: An optical waveguide is described which has a core and a sheath, each of which is made of a fully fluorinated fluorocarbon material. In particular, a fully fluorinated Teflon material such as Teflon AF 1600 or Teflon AF 2400, or a mixture thereof, is suitable as the fully fluorinated fluorocarbon. The optical waveguide is optically transparent around the 1300 nm and/or 1550 nm wave band. Furthermore, the core of the optical waveguide may have a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the sheath. The optical waveguide is suitable for use as, for example, an integrated optical waveguide for transmitting information in optical telecommunications.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring a residual stress and a photoelastic effect of an optical fiber, which includes: a light source; a rotary type optical diffuser distanced from the light source in a predetermined distance for suppressing the spatial coherence of a light radiated in the light source; an optical condenser for condensing the radiated light passed through the optical diffuser into a spot where the optical fiber is located; a polarizer for polarizing the light passed through the optical condenser into a 45° linear polarized light from an axis of the optical fiber; a polarization analyzer, installed at 90° angle with respect to the polariscope and attached closely with the optical fiber, to prevent the penetration by the background image of the optical fiber; an optical fiber strain unit including a strain sensor for straining the optical fiber on the polarization analyzer toward a longitudinal direction and measuring the strain on the optical fiber; an object lens for magnifying the

Abstract: A graded index type optical fiber having a multilayer structure comprising a plurality of concentrically arranged layers formed of (co)polymers selected from the group consisting of two or more homopolymers HP1, HP2, . . . , HPn derived from monomers M1, M2, . . . , Mn, respectively, and having refractive indices decreasing in that order, and one or more binary copolymers CP derived from these monomers, the multilayer structure being such that a mixed layer consisting of the (co)polymers constituting two adjacent layers is formed therebetween, and the refractive index is highest at the center and decreases gradually toward the outer periphery. This optical fiber can be continuously formed by feeding the (co)polymers to a multilayer concentric circular nozzle and thereby extruding them through the nozzle, and allowing the polymers to interdiffuse between adjacent layers of the fiber.

Abstract: A composite material that includes a host matrix and a plurality of dispersed nanoparticles within the host matrix. Each of the plurality of nanoparticles may include a halogenated outer coating layer that seals the nanoparticle and prevents agglomeration of the nanoparticles within the host matrix. The invention also includes a process of forming the composite material. Depending on the nanoparticle material, the composite material may have various applications including, but not limited to, optical devices, windowpanes, mirrors, mirror panels, optical lenses, optical lens arrays, optical displays, liquid crystal displays, cathode ray tubes, optical filters, optical components, all these more generally referred to as components.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising a core capable of transmitting light incident from one end in the lengthwise direction toward the other end, the core consisting of a polymer of a polymerizable stock material that contains a polymerizable hydroxy monomer with a hydroxyl group in the molecule, wherein the content of the polymerizable hydroxy monomer is 0.5 to 9 wt % with respect to the total of the polymerizable stock material, and the minimum dimension (R) in the direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the core and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the core have a relationship represented by the following Inequality 1:117/R+23<Tg<1050/R2+39 where the unit of R is mm, and the unit of Tg is ° C.

Abstract: Waveguides and integrated optical devices incorporating optically functional cladding regions are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic clad waveguide is provided with an optical waveguide core and first and second electrooptic cladding regions. The optical waveguide core is a substantially non-electrooptic material. The cladding regions are electrooptic polymers defining a refractive index that is less than that of the core. The first and second cladding regions may be configured such that their polar axes are oriented in opposite directions, different directions, or along a contour of an electric field. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize other types of optically functional materials in the cladding regions.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical device having a polyimide film through which a light beam is transmitted, which comprises applying a solution containing a polyamic film-forming starting material on a substrate and then baking the resultant under vacuum to form the polyimide film.

Abstract: Disclosed are a material for an optical waveguide, which has high polymerizability and high solvent resistance, an optical waveguide made of the material, and a method for manufacturing the optical waveguide. When a material for an optical waveguide from which organic material layers are made is irradiated with an energy beam, it is activated to make a cladding and a core. The material comprises an oxetane compound, an oxirane compound, and a cationic polymerization initiator. Since the oxetane compound has an oxetane ring, it has a high repeated reactivity in a chain reaction. Thus, the material has high polymerizability at the time of a chain reaction, so that a polymer having an increased mechanical strength and a high solvent resistance is produced. The oxetane compound and the oxirane compound have high compatibility with each other and the refractive index of each of the compounds is reflected in the refractive index of a cured mixture.

Abstract: A plastic optical fiber includes having a first core, a second core having a different refractive index from the first core, disposed concentrically on the outside of the first core, and a clad disposed concentrically on the outside of the second core, wherein a ratio X (r1/r2) of a first core radius r1 to a second core radius r2 and a ratio Y (n2/n1) of a refractive index difference n2 between the second core and the clad to a refactive index difference n1 between the first core and the clad are in a range that satisfies the expressions Y≧−1.134X+1.0518 (1), and X≦−1.4842Y2+1.1097Y+0.7097 (2), and provided that Y<0.4 or X≧0.76 and that coordinate pairs X=0.8 and Y=0.35 as well as X=0.8 and Y=0.45 are excluded. The plastic optical fiber can have a high transmission power and a wide bandwidth. A cable and an optical transimission device can each include this plastic optical fiber.

Abstract: A UV light-curable composition comprises: (a) a first component, said first component being UV light-polymerizable polymer having a first index of refraction; and (b) a second component, the second component being UV light-polymerizable monomer having a second index of refraction, the second index of refraction being higher than said first index of refraction; wherein the first component polymerizes slower upon exposure to UV radiation than the second component.

Abstract: An optical waveguide provided on a substrate, which comprises a core for transmitting light and a clad formed around the core, wherein the clad is made of a fluorinated alicyclic structure-containing polymer having functional groups.

Abstract: A polymer blend is provided. The blend includes poly[2,2-bistrifluoromethyl-4,5-difluoro-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene] and poly[2,2,4-trifluoro-5-trifluoromethoxy-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene]. A method of manufacturing the blend is also provided. An optical waveguide and a method of fabricating the optical waveguide using the polymer blend are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to chromophores having novel electron withdrawing groups and novel bivalent cyclic bridges and to optical waveguides and optical devices having polymeric thin films which contain the novel chromophores.

Abstract: A fluorinated polymerizable compound useful for fabricating planar optical devices includes at least one fluorinated alkylene or alkylene ether moiety and at least two terminal acrylate moieties, each terminal acrylate moiety being connected to one of the fluorinated alkylene or fluorinated alklene ether moieties by an ester linking group. The fluorinated polymerizable compounds, or macromers, of this invention are useful for forming optical components exhibiting a refractive index comparable to that of glass fiber waveguides, while also exhibiting very low absorption losses. Polymerizable compositions suitable for preparing optical components can be prepared by combining the macromers of the invention with a photoinitiator. Conventional optical monomers may also be employed, if desired.

Abstract: Optical gain media and methods for making and using them are provided. An exemplary composition includes at least one suitable metal, at least one first ligand and at least one second ligand. These compositions can be used to make optical elements, components, and subsystems, including, for example, waveguides (e.g., optical fibers and films), optical amplifiers, lasers, compensated optical splitters, multiplexers, isolators, interleavers, demultiplexers, filters, photodetectors, and switches.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is provided. The optical waveguide includes a polymer substrate and a lower cladding disposed on the substrate. The lower cladding is a first perhalogenated polymer. The optical waveguide also includes a core disposed on at least a portion of the lower cladding. A method of manufacturing the optical waveguide is also provided.

Abstract: An optical waveguide including a core layer formed of a polymer, and a cladding layer placed in proximate to the core layer, the cladding layer being formed of a polymer having a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the polymer for the core layer, wherein the polymers for the core and cladding layers are selected from the copolymers having the formula (1): where X is Y is and n is a mole fraction in the range of 0.05≦n<1.

Abstract: A reconfigurable optical filter includes a polymer waveguide core, at least one optical grating formed within the waveguide core, waveguide cladding surrounding the waveguide core, and one or more temperature control elements capable of changing the temperature of the optical gratings. Changing the temperature of the gratings adjust the attenuation spectrum of the filter. A control system may be used to adjust the attenuation spectrum of the filter to achieve a desired output, which may include flattening the non-uniform gain of rare-earth optical amplifiers.

Abstract: Waveguides and integrated optical devices incorporating optically functional cladding regions are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic clad waveguide is provided with an optical waveguide core and first and second electrooptic cladding regions. The optical waveguide core is a substantially non-electrooptic material. The cladding regions are electrooptic polymers defining a refractive index that is less than that of the core. The first and second cladding regions may be poled in opposite or perpendicular directions or along a contour of an electric field. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize other types of optically functional materials in the cladding regions.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprises a silica multimode optical core having a refractive index n1 and at least one polymer optical cladding having a refractive index n2, with n1>n2. It further comprises a heterogeneous polymer intermediate optical cladding situated between the multimode core and the optical cladding and having a refractive index substantially equal to the refractive index n1 of the multimode core.

Abstract: The invention provides polymeric optical materials that can be cured in air and have low optical loss in both the C-band and the L-band of the telecommunications spectrum. The polymeric materials are made by the free radical polymerization of an at least difunctional thiol compound with an at least difunctional ethylenically unsaturated compound wherein at least one of the thiol compound and the ethylenically unsaturated compound is at least partially halogenated. The compositions of this invention may be used to fabricate planar optical waveguides with low loss and low birefringence.

Abstract: An optical waveguide-integrated substrate comprises a first optical waveguide on part of one side (referred to as the first side) of a substrate and a second optical waveguide on part of the other side (referred to as the second side) of the substrate. Both optical waveguides comprise a core and a cladding layer enclosing the core. A method for producing an optical waveguide-integrated substrate comprises preparing a substrate, forming a first optical waveguide on part of the first side of the substrate, and forming a second optical waveguide on part of the second side of the substrate at a temperature different from that for forming the first optical waveguide. An optical transceiver comprises the optical waveguide-integrated substrate, at least one optical-signal-transmitting device mounted on the remaining part of the first side of the substrate, and at least one optical-signal-receiving device mounted on the remaining part of the second side of the substrate.

Abstract: Provided are polymeric or polymeric and glass optical fiber devices which have a tunable wavelength response in a polymeric fiber Bragg grating. An optical fiber is formed having a tubular cladding of a first polymeric or glass composition having a first index of refraction, wherein the cladding has a longitudinal axis. A core of a second polymeric composition is within the cladding and extends along and around the longitudinal axis. The second polymeric composition has a second index of refraction which is greater than the index of refraction of the first polymeric composition. A Bragg grating having a plurality of spaced grating elements is formed in the core. The arrangement then has a means, such as a heater, for changing the spacing between the grating elements.

Abstract: There is provided an article which can be produced at a low cost, is excellent in heat resistance, chemical resistance and dimensional accuracy, and has a predetermined surface shape. In particular there is provided an optical waveguide which has high heat resistance and chemical resistance, a large difference in refractive index, small absorption at a communication wavelength of a near infrared range, reliability and a low loss at an optical communication range. The process for producing the article involves disposing a sol-gel material containing specified silanes between a substrate and a mold in the form of a film so as to make the sol-gel material closely contact the substrate and the mold, and heating to form a gelled film having a surface shape which is the inversion of the surface shape of the mold on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a graded index type optical fiber having a multilayer structure comprising a plurality of concentrically arranged non-blended layers LNB1 to LNBm formed of (co)polymers P1 to Pm selected from the group consisting of two or more homopolymers HP1, HP2, . . . and HPn composed of units of vinyl monomers M1, M2, . . . and Mn, respectively (provided that the refractive indices of the homopolymers decrease in that order), and one or more binary copolymers CPs composed of units of vinyl monomers M1, M2, . . . and Mn, each of (co)polymers P1 to Pm having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 80° C. or above, wherein the refractive index is highest at the center of the multilayer structure and decreases gradually toward the outer periphery thereof. This optical fiber has a small transmission loss, a large numerical aperture, and excellent resistance to moist heat.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric material compositions having excellent white light transmission that is substantially free of color over long light path lengths. This invention also provides polymeric material compositions that provide for the transmission of light having a controlled color when illuminated with a white light source.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is disclosed. The waveguide includes a first cladding layer having a first exposed surface portion and a second surface portion generally opposing the first exposed surface portion, and a core disposed on a portion of the second surface portion. The core has a first end and a second end. The waveguide also includes a second cladding layer having a first exposed surface portion and a second surface portion generally opposing the first exposed surface portion. The second surface portion of the second cladding layer is disposed on the core and a remaining portion of the second surface portion of the first cladding layer. An optical waveguide assembly incorporating the optical waveguide and a method of manufacturing the waveguide are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures.

Abstract: A planar optical waveguide is disclosed. The waveguide includes a substrate, a first cladding disposed on the substrate, and a first core disposed on a first portion of the first cladding. The first core is constructed from a first material. The optical waveguide also includes a second core disposed on a second portion of the first cladding, with the second core being constructed from a second material and a second cladding disposed on the first core, the second core, and a remaining portion of the first cladding. A method of manufacturing the waveguide is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an organic/inorganic hybrid material with a high refractive index at telecommunications wavelengths. Energy curable compositions of the present invention include condensed metal oxide nanoparticles, a high refractive index organometallic coupling agent, an energy curable organometallic coupling agent, and a high refractive index monomer or oligomer. Polymeric materials of the present invention include condensed metal oxide nanoparticles having a mixture of organometallic coupling agents covalently bound to the exterior surface of the nanoparticles and a high refractive index solid polymer matrix, wherein the mixture of organometallic coupling agents includes a high refractive index coupling agent, and a coupling agent covalently bound to the polymer matrix. The materials of the present invention are useful in making optical devices for telecommunications applications.

Abstract: A plastic optical fiber which comprises a core made of a non-crystalline fluoropolymer (a) having substantially no C—H bond, and a clad made of a fluoropolymer (b) having a refractive index lower by at least 0.001 than the fluoropolymer (a), and of which the propagation mode is a single mode.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising a core capable of transmitting light incident from one end in the lengthwise direction toward the other end, the core consisting of a polymer of a polymerizable stock material that contains a polymerizable hydroxy monomer with a hydroxyl group in the molecule, wherein the content of the polymerizable hydroxy monomer is 0.5 to 9 wt % with respect to the total of the polymerizable stock material, and the minimum dimension (R) in the direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the core and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the core have a relationship represented by the following Inequality 1:117/R+23<Tg<1050/R2+39 where the unit of R is mm, and the unit of Tg is ° C.

Abstract: The invention provides organic optical waveguide devices which are lithographically formed and employ polymeric materials having low optical loss, good long term and short term stability, good flexibility and reduced stress or crack induced scattering loss. An optical element has a substrate; a patterned, light transmissive core composition on the surface of the substrate; and a light reflecting cladding composition on the pattern of the core. The core composition has a glass transition temperature of about 80° C. or less and the cladding composition has a glass transition temperature of about 60° C. or less.

Abstract: A polyester having less than 50 hydrogen-carbon bonds per 1000 molecular weight units exhibits very low optical loss in the range of wavelengths commonly used for optical communication, and exhibits other physical properties suitable for use as a waveguide core material and/or a waveguide cladding material in optical fibers and/or planar optical devices.

Abstract: A light guiding plate, characterized by comprising a transparent thermoplastic resin composition containing 1-200 ppm of fine particles having a refractive index of 1.7-3.0 and an average particle diameter of 0.01-1.0 &mgr;m. This light guiding plate is suitable for display devices used in office automation apparatuses such as personal computers, word processors, etc. and various monitors displaying image signals such as panel monitors, television monitors, etc., display devices used in illuminators for indoor or outdoor space, and signs.

Abstract: Spiro compounds of the formula I in which &psgr; is C, Si, Ge or Sn and K1 and K2 independently of one another are conjugated systems, are suitable as materials in nonlinear optics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for an optical processor. Polymerizable compounds in a specific composition containing photo-reactive materials, optically polar materials, and optical materials which can be cured with actinic radiation to form polymeric compositions, are provided. The resultant polymeric compositions are capable of forming complex optical interconnecting network structures. The optical networks may also be placed on a rotatable microdisk, thereby increasing the number of functions able to be carried out with the present invention. Also, the rotatable microdisks may be stacked upon each other, increasing the number of functions of the invention still further.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method, apparatus, and composition of matter for producing near-infrared (near-IR) radiation. The subject invention can incorporate a polymer and a metal-containing compound, wherein the metal-containing compound can incorporate a metal-ligand complex, wherein when the metal-ligand complex becomes excited, energy is transferred from the ligand to the metal, wherein, the energy transferred to the metal by sensitization is emitted as near-infrared radiation. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a composition of matter having a luminescent polymer and a metal containing compound where the metal containing compound incorporates a metal-ligand complex such that the absorption spectrum of the metal-ligand complex at least partially overlaps with the emission spectrum of the luminescent polymer.

Abstract: Waveguides and methods of fabrication thereof are presented. A representative waveguide includes a waveguide core and a cladding layer, where the cladding layer surrounds the waveguide core. The waveguide core and cladding can be made of a host material having a plurality of nano-pores, wherein the nano-pores include a sacrificial material, and the sacrificial material can be selectively decomposed in both the core and cladding layers to form a plurality of nano air-gaps.

Abstract: An optical waveguide provided on a substrate, which comprises a core for transmitting light and a clad formed around the core, wherein the clad is made of a fluorinated alicyclic structure-containing polymer having functional groups.