Patent ID: 11927868
Assignee: LIGHTWAVE LOGIC, INC.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 1:
2. An electro-optic device comprising: (i) an electro-optic polymer core comprising a first host polymer and a first nonlinear optical chromophore; and (ii) claddings comprising an upper cladding and a lower cladding; wherein the electro-optic polymer core is disposed between the lower cladding and the upper cladding, wherein the lower cladding comprises a second host polymer and a second nonlinear optical chromophore and the upper cladding comprises a third host polymer and a third nonlinear optical chromophore; wherein the first nonlinear optical chromophore has a structure according to the general formula (I):

D-Π-A  (I)

wherein D represents a first organic electron-donating group: A represents a first organic electron-accepting group having an electron affinity greater than the electron affinity of D; and Π represents a first bridge covalently bonded to A and D, wherein the first bridge comprises a 2-4 carbon diyl moiety, wherein the diyl moiety is arranged as the shortest path between the first electron-donating group and the first electron-accepting group:
wherein the second nonlinear optical chromophore has a structure according to the general formula (II):

D′-Π′-A′  (II)

wherein D′ represents a second organic electron-donating group: A′ represents a second organic electron-accepting group having an electron affinity greater than the electron affinity of D′; and Π′ represents a second bridge covalently bonded to A′ and D′; and wherein the lower cladding has an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the electro-optic polymer core, and wherein the second nonlinear optical chromophore is present in the second host polymer in a concentration such that the lower cladding has a conductivity equal to or greater than at least 10% of the conductivity of the electro-optic polymer core at a poling temperature:
wherein the third nonlinear optical chromophore has a structure according to the general formula (III):

D″-Π″-A″  (III)

wherein D″ represents a third organic electron-donating group: A″ represents a third organic electron-accepting group having an electron affinity greater than the electron affinity of D″;
and Π″ represents a third bridge covalently bonded to A″ and D″; wherein the upper cladding has an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the electro-optic polymer core, and wherein the third nonlinear optical chromophore is present in the third host polymer in a concentration such that the upper cladding has a conductivity equal to or greater than at least 10% of the conductivity of the electro-optic polymer core at the poling temperature:
wherein the first host polymer, the second host polymer and the third host polymer are the same;
wherein the lower cladding and the upper cladding each has a blue-shifted absorption spectrum as compared to the absorption spectrum of the electro-optic polymer core.