Ag-Exchanged Glass Waveguide Substrate for Stable Single-Mode Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass substrates using ion exchange techniques struggle to form stable optical waveguides that can control core thickness and achieve high homogeneity, particularly for single-mode light propagation.
Innovation Solution
A glass substrate with a core portion and cladding portion, where the core has a higher Ag concentration than the cladding, a refractive index difference of 0.005 or more, and a controlled Ag concentration gradient, formed by ion exchange of Na ions with Ag ions, with specific compositional ranges for both portions to achieve stable single-mode light propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ion exchange technique with high ion exchange rate is used to increase glass strength, then glass strength is improved, but it becomes difficult to control core thickness and achieve high homogeneity in optical waveguide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the ion exchange rate parameter by adjusting the composition ratio of molten salt (NaCl:KCl in 4:1 mass ratio) and controlling exchange temperature (400-450°C) and time (30-120 minutes) to achieve an appropriate ion exchange rate that enables precise core thickness control while maintaining glass strength enhancement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic control approach by establishing specific processing conditions (temperature, time, molten salt composition) that allow the ion exchange rate to be optimized for both strength enhancement and precise waveguide formation, transitioning from a fixed high-rate exchange to a controllable dynamic process
2Strength
If ion exchange technique with high ion exchange rate is used to increase glass strength, then glass strength is improved, but it becomes difficult to achieve high homogeneity in optical waveguide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the ion exchange rate parameter through specific molten salt composition (NaCl:KCl 4:1 mass ratio) and processing conditions (400-450°C for 30-120 minutes) to achieve uniform Ag ion distribution throughout the core region, ensuring high homogeneity while maintaining strength enhancement
3Strength
If conventional ion exchange technique is used to form optical waveguide, then glass strength is increased, but it becomes difficult to form stable optical waveguide for single-mode light propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the ion exchange parameters including molten salt composition (NaCl:KCl 4:1), temperature (400-450°C), and time (30-120 minutes) to create a stable refractive index profile with Δn≥0.005 and controlled core thickness (2.5-10 μm), enabling reliable single-mode light propagation while maintaining glass strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical/physical ion exchange approach with a chemically optimized ion exchange process using specific molten salt composition, substituting the traditional method with a chemically controlled process that achieves both strength enhancement and optical waveguide stability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The glass substrate enables stable single-mode light propagation with low propagation loss and high homogeneity, suitable for optical integrated devices.
Implementation Method 1
a core portion to be an optical waveguide; and a cladding portion, in which the core portion and the cladding portion both include a glass, the core portion has a higher Ag concentration than the cladding portion, a Ag concentration gradient is present from a boundary between the core portion and the cladding portion toward a region in the core portion where the Ag concentration is maximum
Data Source
AI summary
A glass substrate includes: a core portion to be an optical waveguide; and a cladding portion. The core portion and the cladding portion both include a glass, the core portion has a higher Ag concentration than the cladding portion, a Ag concentration gradient is present from a boundary between the core portion and the cladding portion toward a region in the core portion where the Ag concentration is maximum, the core portion is a region where a refractive index is equal to or greater than a value represented by {N+(Δn/2)}, where Δn is a refractive index difference represented by (Nmax−N), the refractive index difference Δn is 0.005 or more, and a core thickness Δd of the core portion in a thickness direction of the glass substrate is 2.5 μm to 10 μm.