1-22. (canceled)
23. A golf ball comprising:
a center having a hardness of 19 to 25;
an outer core layer having a hardness of 30 to 38;
an inner cover layer formed from a material having a flexural modulus of at least about 65,000 psi; and
an outer cover layer formed from a thermoset material and having a thickness of less than 0.05 inches.
24. The golf ball of claim 23, wherein the outer cover has a thickness of less than about 0.02 inches to about 0.04 inches.
25. The golf ball of claim 23, wherein the thermoset material comprises polyurethane.
26. The golf ball of claim 23, wherein the inner cover layer is formed from a material having a flexural modulus of at least about 75,000 psi.
27. The golf ball of claim 23, wherein the inner cover layer is formed from an ionomer resin.
28. The golf ball of claim 23, wherein the inner cover layer has a hardness of 68 to 72.
29. A golf ball comprising:
a center having a hardness of 19 to 25;
an outer core layer having a hardness of 30 to 38;
an inner cover layer having a hardness of 68 to 72; and
an outer cover layer formed from a castable reactive liquid material, wherein the outer cover layer has a thickness of less than 0.05 inches and a hardness of 50 to 60.
30. The golf ball of claim 29, wherein the castable reactive liquid material comprises polyurethane.
31. The golf ball of claim 29, wherein the inner cover layer comprises ionomer resin.
32. The golf ball of claim 29, wherein the center comprises a first rubber-based material and the outer core layer comprises a second rubber-based material.
34. The golf ball of claim 32, wherein the first and second rubber-based materials have different physical properties.
35. A golf ball comprising:
a center having a hardness of 19 to 25;
an outer core layer having a hardness of 30 to 38;
an inner cover layer comprising ionomer resin having a hardness of 68 to 72; and
an outer cover layer comprising polyurethane, wherein the outer cover layer has a thickness of about 0.02 inches to about 0.04 inches and a hardness of 50 to 60.
36. The golf ball of claim 35, wherein the polyurethane is thermoset.
37. The golf ball of claim 35, wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.02 inches to about 0.045 inches.
38. The golf ball of claim 35, wherein the ionomer resin has a flexural modulus of at least about 75,000 psi.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An arrangement for providing optical coupling between an external light source generating optical signals at a plurality of different wavelengths, the plurality defined by a wavelength range and a center wavelength, and a relatively thin, planar silicon optical waveguide, the arrangement comprising:
an evanescent coupling layer disposed over at least a portion of the planar silicon optical waveguide, the evanescent coupling layer exhibiting a refractive index less than the refractive index of silicon and having a substantially constant thickness of an average value selected for minimizing optical loss over the wavelength range associated with the external light source; and
a silicon-based prism coupling structure disposed over the evanescent coupling layer, the prism coupling structure including an input facet formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the waveguide surface and an output facet formed at the predetermined angle with respect to the waveguide surface, the prism coupling structure further including a planar lower surface disposed over the evanescent coupling layer.
2. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the wavelength range is defined as a subset of wavelengths within the 1.1-1.65 \u03bcm range.
3. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the generated signals exhibit a beam size associated with providing a predetermined optical loss for the selected evanescent coupling layer thickness.
4. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the evanescent coupling layer is selected to minimize optical loss at essentially the center wavelength for a predetermined beam size.
5. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the evanescent coupling layer is selected to minimize optical loss over the wavelength range, the selected thickness being less than the thickness associated with minimal optical loss at the center wavelength.
6. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the evanescent coupling layer comprises a dielectric material.
7. The arrangement as defined in claim 6 wherein the refractive index of the dielectric material is selected to provide a predetermined acceptable optical loss over the wavelength range for the selected thickness of the relatively thin, planar silicon optical waveguide.
8. The arrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein the refractive index is greater than 1.3.
9. The arrangement as defined in claim 6 wherein the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of: silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride and silicon carbide.
10. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the evanescent coupling layer comprises a single layer of material.
11. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the evanescent coupling layer comprises a plurality of sub-layers of material.
12. The arrangement as defined in claim 11 wherein each sub-layer of the plurality of sub-layers comprises the same material.
13. The arrangement as defined in claim 11 wherein at least two of the sub-layers of the plurality of sub-layers comprise a different material.
14. The arrangement as defined in claim 6 wherein the thickness of the planar silicon optical waveguide is selected to provide a predetermined acceptable loss over the wavelength range for the selected dielectric material of the evanescent coupling layer.
15. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the arrangement further comprises
input optical interfacing elements disposed between the external light source and the prism coupling structure input facet for collimating, shaping and steering an input optical beam to a predetermined entry point and angle of incidence with respect to the input coupling facet.
16. The arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein the arrangement further comprises:
output optical interfacing elements for collimating, shaping and steering an output beam toward a receiving element.
17. The arrangement as defined in claim 16 wherein the output optical interfacing elements further provide focusing of the output beam into the receiving element.
18. The arrangement as defined in claim 16 wherein the output optical interfacing and receiving elements are integrated, at least in part, with the relatively thin, planar optical waveguide.
19. The arrangement as defined in claim 16 wherein the output optical interfacing elements comprise discrete components disposed external to the output facet for collimating, shaping and steering an output beam towards an external receiving element.
20. The arrangement as defined in claim 15 wherein the input interfacing elements further comprise
a beam steering system for directing an input optical beam to a predetermined entry point and angle of incidence on the prism coupling structure input coupling facet, the beam steering system capable of being translated and rotated to accomplish the directing function.
21. The arrangement as defined in claim 20 wherein the beam steering system functions to modify the entry point and angle of incidence by re-directing the input optical beam as the center wavelength changes.
22. The arrangement as defined in claim 20 wherein the beam steering system comprises at least one reflective optical element.
23. The arrangement as defined in claim 20 wherein the beam steering system comprises at least one transmissive optical element.
24. The arrangement as defined in claim 20 wherein the predetermined entry point and angle of incidence are selected to maximize optical coupling for a predetermined center wavelength.
25. The arrangement as defined in claim 20 wherein the arrangement further comprises
an output beam steering system for directing an output optical beam from the prism coupling structure output coupling facet into a receiving optical device.
26. The arrangement as defined in claim 20 wherein the beam steering system comprises a plurality of beam steering elements, each beam steering element associated with a specified wavelength within the wavelength range, wherein each beam steering element is independently operated to direct its associated input beam to a predetermined entry point and angle of incidence on the prism coupling structure input coupling facet.
27. The arrangement as defined in claim 20 wherein the arrangement further comprises
a feedback system for measuring the optical input signal coupled into the relatively thin, silicon optical waveguide and providing an adjustment output signal as an input to the beam steering system to modify the translational and rotational movements to maintain maximum optical coupling.
28. The arrangement as defined in claim 27 wherein the feedback system compares a tapped-off portion of the input optical signal from the relatively thin, silicon optical waveguide to a known maximum coupled signal, using the difference between the two values as the adjustment output signal.
29. The arrangement as defined in claim 27 wherein the feedback system compares the coupling efficiency of the input optical signal at the relatively thin, silicon optical waveguide to a known maximum value of coupling efficiency and uses the difference between the two values as the adjustment output signal.
30. An arrangement for providing optical coupling between an external light source generating optical signals at a plurality of different wavelengths, the plurality defined by a wavelength range and a center wavelength, and a relatively thin, planar silicon optical waveguide, the arrangement comprising:
an evanescent coupling region disposed over at least a portion of the planar silicon optical waveguide, the evanescent coupling region including
an input evanescent coupling region, wherein the thickness of the input evanescent coupling region varies monotonically such that an initial coupled portion of an input optical beam intercepts a thickness that is less than the thickness intercepted by a central coupled portion of the optical beam, and a final coupled portion of the optical beam intercepts a thickness that is greater than the thickness intercepted by the central coupled portion of the optical beam; and
an output evanescent coupling region, wherein the thickness of the output evanescent coupling region varies monotonically such that an initial coupled portion of an optical beam propagating along the planar silicon optical waveguide intercepts a thickness that is greater than the thickness intercepted by a central coupled portion of the propagating optical beam, and a final coupled portion of the propagating optical beam intercepts a thickness that is less than the thickness intercepted by the central coupled portion of the propagating optical beam; and
a silicon-based prism coupling structure disposed over the evanescent coupling region, the prism coupling structure including an input facet formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the planar silicon waveguide surface and an output facet formed at the predetermined angle with respect to the silicon planar waveguide surface, the prism coupling structure disposed over the evanescent coupling region.
31. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the wavelength range is defined as a subset of wavelengths in the 1.1-1.65 \u03bcm range.
32. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the thickness in the input and output portions of the evanescent coupling region vary linearly with distance along the propagation directly of the optical beam.
33. The arrangement as defined in claim 32 wherein the thickness of the input and output evanescent coupling portions at the locations intercepted by the central portion of the coupled optical beams and the slope of the linear variation are selected to achieved a predetermined value of optical loss over the wavelength range.
34. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the evanescent coupling region comprises a dielectric material.
35. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the refractive index of the dielectric material is selected to provide a predetermined acceptable optical loss over the wavelength range for a selected thickness of the relatively thin, planar silicon optical waveguide.
36. The arrangement as defined in claim 35 wherein the refractive index is greater than 1.3.
37. The arrangement as defined in claim 34 wherein the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of: silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride and silicon carbide.
38. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the evanescent coupling region comprises a single layer of material.
39. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the evanescent coupling region comprises a plurality of layers of material.
40. The arrangement as defined in claim 39 wherein each layer of the plurality of layers comprises the same material.
41. The arrangement as defined in claim 39 wherein at least two of the layers of the plurality of layers comprise a different material.
42. The arrangement as defined in claim 34 wherein the thickness of the planar silicon optical waveguide is selected to provide a predetermined acceptable loss over the wavelength range for the selected dielectric material of the evanescent coupling layer.
43. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the arrangement further comprises
input optical interfacing elements disposed between the external light source and the prism coupling structure input facet for collimating, shaping and steering an input optical beam to a predetermined entry point and angle of incidence with respect to the input facet.
44. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the arrangement further comprises
output optical interfacing elements for collimating, shaping and steering an output beam toward a receiving element.
45. The arrangement as defined in claim 44 wherein the output optical interfacing elements further provide focusing of the output beam into the receiving element.
46. The arrangement as defined in claim 44 wherein the output optical interfacing and receiving elements are integrated, at least in part, with the relatively thin, planar optical waveguide.
47. The arrangement as defined in claim 44 wherein the output optical interfacing elements comprise discrete components disposed external to the output facet for collimating, shaping and steering an output beam towards an external receiving element.
48. The arrangement as defined in claim 43 wherein the input optical interfacing elements further comprise
a beam steering system for directing an input optical beam to a predetermined entry point and angle of incidence on the prism coupling structure input facet, the beam steering system capable of being translated and rotated to accomplish the directing function.
49. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the beam steering system functions to modify the entry point and angle of incidence by re-directing the input optical beam as the center wavelength changes.
50. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the beam steering system comprises at least one reflective optical element.
51. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the beam steering system comprises at least one transmissive optical element.
52. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the predetermined entry point and angle of incidence are selected to maximize optical coupling for a predetermined center wavelength.
53. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the beam steering system functions to modify the position where the optical beam intercepts the input evanescent coupling portion until a predetermined value of coupling is achieved.
54. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the arrangement further comprises
an output beam steering system for directing an output optical beam from the prism coupling structure output coupling facet into a receiving optical device.
55. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the beam steering system comprises a plurality of beam steering elements, each beam steering element associated with a specific wavelength within the wavelength range, wherein each beam steering element is independently operated to direct its associated input beam to a predetermined entry point and angle of incidence on the prism coupling structure input coupling facet.
56. The arrangement as defined in claim 48 wherein the arrangement further comprises
a feedback system that monitors the input signal coupled into the relatively thin, planar silicon waveguide and provides adjustment signals to the beam steering system to modify the translational and rotational movements to maintain maximum input coupling.
57. The arrangement as defined in claim 56 wherein the feedback system compares a tapped-off portion of the input optical signal from the relatively thin, silicon optical waveguide to a known maximum coupled signal, using the difference between the two values as the adjustment output signal.
58. The arrangement as defined in claim 56 wherein the feedback system compares the coupling efficiency of the input optical signal at the relatively thin, silicon optical waveguide to a known maximum value of coupling efficiency and uses the difference between the two values as the adjustment output signal.
59. The arrangement as defined in claim 30 wherein the external light source comprises an optical fiber.
60. The arrangement as defined in claim 57 wherein the optical fiber comprises a lensed optical fiber.
61. The arrangement as defined in claim 44 wherein the receiving optical element comprises an optical fiber.
62. The arrangement as defined in claim 61 wherein the receiving optical fiber comprises a lensed optical fiber.