Flame Retardant Adhesive for Optical Waveguide Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Optical waveguide devices lack inherent flame retardant properties, requiring additional flame retardant materials and layers, which increase manufacturing costs and risk peeling when flexible substrates are bent, compromising reliability.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flame retardant adhesive layer that covers the optical waveguide and connector portion, eliminating the need for separate flame retardant materials and layers, and using a transparent flame retardant underfill resin to provide integral flame retardant properties without additional manufacturing steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate flame retardant layer is introduced to provide flame retardant properties, then flame retardant property is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame retardant propertyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the adhesive layer and flame retardant layer into a single integrated layer. The adhesive layer is formulated with flame retardant properties, eliminating the need for a separate flame retardant layer while maintaining both adhesion function and flame retardant protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing adhesion between layers and providing flame retardant protection. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed in the optical waveguide device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate flame retardant layer is introduced to provide flame retardant properties, then flame retardant property is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame retardant propertyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the adhesive layer and flame retardant layer into a single integrated layer. The adhesive layer is formulated with flame retardant properties, eliminating the need for a separate flame retardant layer while maintaining both adhesion function and flame retardant protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional flame retardant materials are introduced, then flame retardant property is improved, but the number of manufacturing steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame retardant propertyVSAvoidmanufacturing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the adhesive layer and flame retardant layer into a single integrated layer. The adhesive layer is formulated with flame retardant properties, eliminating the need for a separate flame retardant layer while maintaining both adhesion function and flame retardant protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution enables optical waveguide devices with flame retardant properties without increasing costs or compromising reliability, even when flexible substrates are bent, by using a single adhesive layer for both adhesion and flame retardation.

Implementation Method 1

a flame retardant adhesive layer covering the optical waveguide, and a connector portion adhered to other end part of the optical waveguide by the flame retardant adhesive layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a flame retardant underfill resin filled under the optical element, and covering the optical waveguide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFilling:

Data Source

PatentUS9122023B2Optical waveguide device and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2015.09.01 SHINKO ELECTRIC IND CO LTD

AI summary

An optical waveguide device includes, a substrate, an optical waveguide arranged on the substrate, an optical element arranged on the substrate and optically coupled to one end part of the optical waveguide, a flame retardant adhesive layer covering the optical waveguide, and a connector portion adhered to other end part of the optical waveguide by the flame retardant adhesive layer.