Patent ID: 6824934
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for forming a tapered waveguide on a substrate which comprises(a) providing an actinic radiation polymerizable coating composition on a substrate, which coating composition has a bottom surface adjacent to the substrate and a top surface spaced from the bottom surface; said coating composition being at least partially transparent to laser light; said coating composition comprising one or more multifunctional acrylates represented by the formula: wherein R2 is H or CH3, and R1 is a linkage selected from the group consisting of alkylene, alkylene oxide, arylene oxide, aliphtic polyether, and aliphatic polyester, and m=1-3;(b) imagewise exposing in an oxygen containing atmosphere the coating composition to sufficient actinic radiation to at least partially polymerize the coating composition and form a polymerized portion and a non-polymerized portion of the coating composition by directing a converging beam of laser light onto and through the coating composition; said beam of converging laser light having a greater intensity at the bottom surface of the coating composition and a lesser intensity at the top surface of the coating composition, and a gradually decreasing intensity from the bottom surface of the coating composition to the top surface of the coating composition; (c) (i) either moving the substrate with respect to the converging beam or moving the converging beam with respect to the substrate, along a linear path; and(ii) either conducting the moving at a gradually increasing or gradually decreasing velocity from a first position on the substrate to a second position on the substrate; or gradually increasing or decreasing the intensity of the beam of laser light from a first position on the substrate to a second position on the substrate; and (d) developing the coating composition with a liquid developer and removing the non-polymerized portion of the coating composition; thus forming a tapered waveguide on the substrate.