Patent ID: 6954570

Claim:
An optical waveguide for transmitting light on a continuous optical pathway between a first optical fiber connection site and a second optical fiber connection site, said waveguide comprising a light-transmitting core that is formed of material of relatively high refractive index or indices and a material surrounding said core that is formed of material of relatively low refractive index or indices, said waveguide core having a first cross-sectional area at said first optical connection site, a second cross-sectional area at said second optical connection site that is the same or different than said first cross-sectional area, and at least one third cross-sectional area between said first and second optical connection sites substantially less than either said first or said second cross-sectional areas, and said material that forms said waveguide core having a first composition at one of either said first site or said second site and having a second composition at said at least one third cross-sectional area, wherein said first composition is different than said second composition.