Springworks, LLC

Symmorphix, Inc.

Other

Photon Dynamics, Inc.

Palmone, Incorporated

Rajiv Pethe

Richard Ernest Demaray

Kai-An Wang

Ravi Mullapudi

Hongmei Zhang

Yu Cheng Chen

Tao Pan

Douglas P Stadtler

Yong Jin Xie

Shawn Robert Gettemy

Qing Zhu

Xianhai Chen

Harold D Ackler

John C Egermeier

Alexander J Nagy

Pramod Gupta

A process for forming a mode size converter with an out-of-plane taper formed during deposition with a shadow mask is disclosed. Mode-size converters according to the present invention can have any number of configurations. Measured coupling efficiencies for waveguides with mode size converters according to the present invention show marked improvement.

Mode size converter for a planar waveguide

An as-deposited waveguide structure is formed by a vapor deposition process without etching of core material. A planar optical device of a lighthouse design includes a ridge-structured lower cladding layer of a low refractive index material. The lower cladding layer has a planar portion and a ridge portion extending above the planar portion. A core layer of a core material having a higher refractive index than the low refractive index material of the lower cladding layer overlies the top of the ridge portion of the lower cladding. A slab layer of the core material overlies the planar portion of the lower cladding layer. The lighthouse waveguide also includes a top cladding layer of a material having a lower refractive index than the core material, overlying the core layer and the slab layer. A method of forming an as-deposited waveguide structure includes first forming a ridge structure in a layer of low refractive index material to provide a lower cladding layer. Next a layer of core material is deposited over the ridge structure by a vapor deposition process. Finally, a top cladding layer of a material having a lower refractive index than the core material is deposited over the core layer.

As-deposited planar optical waveguides with low scattering loss and methods for their manufacture

In order to allow application of any coating under a vacuum over a volatile gelatinous layer, such as polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) on an optical glass substrate with a transparent electrode, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) on its surface, a layer of an intermediate stress absorbing polymeric material is first applied to cover the volatile gelatinous layer to prevent evaporation and escape of volatiles, thereafter the coating is applied under a very high vacuum using for example a technique called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) or sputtering.

Vacuum deposition of dielectric coatings on volatile material

Physical vapor deposition processes provide optical materials with controlled and uniform refractive index that meet the requirements for active and passive planar optical devices. All processes use radio frequency (RF) sputtering with a wide area target, larger in area than the substrate on which material is deposited, and uniform plasma conditions which provide uniform target erosion. In addition, a second RF frequency can be applied to the sputtering target and RF power can be applied to the substrate producing substrate bias. Multiple approaches for controlling refractive index are provided. The present RF sputtering methods for material deposition and refractive index control are combined with processes commonly used in semiconductor fabrication to produce planar optical devices such surface ridge devices, buried ridge devices and buried trench devices. A method for forming composite wide area targets from multiple tiles is also provided.

Planar optical devices and methods for their manufacture

The present invention system and method facilitates efficient and relatively even distribution of illumination throughout a display screen. The system and method also facilitates clearer presentation of images, size reductions and conservation of limited power resources in handheld computers. In one embodiment of the present invention, a display illumination distribution system includes a light pipe, a lens, a wave-guide array and a light source. The light sources provides light waves that are directed along the wave guide array to the lens which directs the light waves into the light pipe. The light pipe conveys the light to the display and provides illumination. The routing of light through the wave-guide array confines the light waves to a wave guide and reduces the number of light waves that miss the light pipe.

Personal digital assistant display illumination method and system

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Rajiv Pethe