OSAKA, Japan -- Nitto Denko Corporation (TSE: 6988) (CEO: Masamichi Takemoto) is pleased to announce that it has developed a unique new photo-sensitive epoxy material which can be used for optical waveguides. This new material is highly transparent in the near-infrared range, and flexible, so that optical circuits can be created by patterning using ultra-violet exposure, replacing conventional dry-etching processes. Thus, the new material will be applicable in optical circuit boards.

Embedded optical waveguides can be created using the photo-sensitive epoxy material. The light-transmitting part (core) pattern surface is flat with a rectangular cross-section. The wrapping around the core (clad) can also be embedded, allowing construction of a 100micrometer film on the substrate. The optical characteristics of the material are excellent, leading to low 0.1 dB/cm losses over the 0.7-1.0micrometer range. Excellent flexibility enables the material to be used in film circuits.

In addition, manufacturing is made easier with the new material. Optical waveguide patterns can be created using a simple, ultraviolet exposure and developing process. Thus the conventional dry-etching process is no longer required. The material will also yield benefits in the field optical interconnection, between substrates and chips, as a material for optical waveguides between parts inside electronic equipment of several mm to tens of cm.

Nitto Denko has developed this new photo-conductive material, cultivating its transparent polymer design and photo-sensitive process technologies experience of many years, in response to the growing demand for a low-cost, highly reliable optical waveguide material to transmit optical signals efficiently. Demand is growing along with completion of high-speed, high-capacity communications infrastructure as we enter the broad-band era, and in anticipation that optical communications will soon be used even at the consumer level and within electronic equipment instead of just for major communications trunk-lines.

Nitto Denko Corp.