Vincent L Evanchuk

US Patent:

43761607, Mar 8, 1983

Filed:

Jan 27, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/228750

Inventors:

Vincent L. Evanchuk - Sherman Oaks CA

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

B05D 306

US Classification:

430321

Abstract:

A method for making monolithic optical circuits, with related optical devices as required or desired, on a supporting surface (10) consists of coating the supporting surface with reflecting metal or cladding resin, spreading a layer of liquid radiation senstivie plastic (12) on the surface, exposing the liquid plastic with a mask (14) to cure it in a desired pattern of light conductors (16, 18, 20), washing away the unexposed liquid plastic, and coating the conductors thus formed with reflective metal or cladding resin. The index of refraction for the cladding (22) is selected to be lower than for the conductors so that light in the conductors will be reflected by the interface with the cladding. For multiple level conductors, as where one conductor must cross over another, the process may be repeated to fabricate a "bridge" with columns (24, 26) of conductors to the next level, and conductor (28) between the columns. For more efficient transfer of energy over the bridge, faces at 45. degree.

US Patent:

44410964, Apr 3, 1984

Filed:

Aug 13, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/407830

Inventors:

Vincent L. Evanchuk - Sherman Oaks CA

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

H03K 1302

US Classification:

340347AD

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for converting the intensity of an unknown optical signal (B) into an electrical signal in digital form utilizes two elongated optical attenuators (11, 13), one for the unknown optical signal from a source (10) and one for a known optical signal (A) from a variable source (12), a plurality of photodetectors (e. g. , 17, 18) along each attenuator for detecting the intensity of the optical signals, and a plurality of comparators (e. g. , 21) connected to the photodetectors in pairs to determine at what points being compared the attenuated known signal equals the attenuated unknown signal. The intensity of the unknown relative to the known is thus determined by the output of a particular comparator. That output is automatically encoded to a relative intensity value in digital form through a balancing feedback control (24) and encoder (23). The digital value may be converted to analog form in a D-to-A converter (27) and used to vary the source of the known signal so that the attenuated intensity of the known signal at a predetermined point (comparator 16) equals the attenuated intensity of the unknown signal at the predetermined point of comparison.

US Patent:

44720203, Sep 18, 1984

Filed:

Sep 2, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/414079

Inventors:

Vincent L. Evanchuk - Sherman Oaks CA

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

G02B 5174

US Classification:

350 9612

Abstract:

A method for making monolithic optical circuits, with related optical devices as required or desired, on a supporting surface (10) consists of coating the supporting surface with reflecting metal or cladding resin, spreading a layer of liquid radiation sensitive plastic (12) on the surface, exposing the liquid plastic with a mask (14) to cure it in a desired pattern of light conductors (16, 18, 20), washing away the unexposed liquid plastic, and coating the conductors thus formed with reflective metal or cladding resin. The index of refraction for the cladding (22) is selected to be lower than for the conductors so that light in the conductors will be reflected by the interface with the cladding. For multiple level conductors, as where one conductor must cross over another, the process may be repeated to fabricate a "bridge" with columns (24, 26) of conductors to the next level, and conductor (28) between the columns. For more efficient transfer of energy over the bridge, faces at 45. degree.