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:
Oct. 21, 2008
Filed:
May. 19, 2003
Peter George Robin Smith, Hampshire, GB;
Richard Bird Williams, Hampshire, GB;
Vassilios Albanis, Hampshire, GB;
Corin Barry Edmund Gawith, Hampshire, GB;
Samuel Paul Watts, Hampshire, GB;
Gregory Daniel Emmerson, Hampshire, GB;
Peter George Robin Smith, Hampshire, GB;
Richard Bird Williams, Hampshire, GB;
Vassilios Albanis, Hampshire, GB;
Corin Barry Edmund Gawith, Hampshire, GB;
Samuel Paul Watts, Hampshire, GB;
Gregory Daniel Emmerson, Hampshire, GB;
University of Southampton, Hampshire, GB;
Abstract
A method of simultaneously defining a waveguide and grating in a sample of photosensitive material comprises providing a sample of material () having a region which is photosensitive to light of a specific wavelength, generating a spot of light () at the specific wavelength, the spot having a periodic intensity pattern of high and low intensity fringes, and a width which is related to the width of the channel, positioning the spot within the photosensitive region and causing relative movement between the sample and the light spot along the desired path of the waveguide/grating define a channel of altered refractive index by exposing parts of the photosensitive region to the light spot. Modulation of the light spot to produce multiple exposures produces a grating, while continuous exposure results in a uniform waveguide. These structures can be written in straight lines or around curves, and can be accurately overwritten, so that complex optical devices can be produced in a single fabrication step.