1.
Opt Express
; 22(4): 4168-79, 2014 Feb 24.
Artigo
em Inglês
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24663741
RESUMO
We introduce the concept of mechanically stretchable optical waveguides. The technology to fabricate these waveguides is based on a cost-efficient replication method, employing commercially available polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) materials. Furthermore, VCSELs (λ = 850 nm) and photodiodes, embedded in a flexible package, were integrated with the waveguides to obtain a truly bendable, stretchable and mechanically deformable optical link. Since these sources and detectors were integrated, it was possible to determine the influence of bending and stretching on the waveguide performance.