The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 05, 2001
James M. Battiato, Austin, TX (US);
James F. Brennan, III, Austin, TX (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A method for adjusting a photosensitive optical waveguide having an optical path length to a stabilized desired optical path length. The method includes the step of changing the optical path length of the photosensitive optical waveguide by exposing at least a first portion of the waveguide to actinic radiation and creating an induced index change in the exposed first portion. The waveguide then is subjected to an annealing cycle that stabilizes the waveguide. After the step of stabilizing the waveguide, the optical path length is adjusted by subjecting at least a selected part of the exposed first portion of the waveguide to a localized heating sufficient to change the refractive index at the selected part until the desired optical path length is achieved.