Production of 3D free-form waveguide structures

US10343332B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FÜR TECHNOLOGIE · DE

Inventors

• Timo Mappes · Karlsruhe, DE
• Sebastian Köber · Leichlingen, DE
• Nicole Lindenmann · Niefern-Öschelbronn, DE
• Christian Koos · Karlsruhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 28, 2014
• Grant date: Jul 9, 2019
• Expiry date: Dec 25, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29K2105/0002
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing an optical waveguide (20) more particularly for integrated photonic systems. This process comprises provision of polymerizable material; local polymerization of the polymerizable material to produce a multiplicity of polymerized structural elements (14); removal of the unpolymerized regions of the polymerizable material; and heating of the polymerized material more particularly above the glass transition temperature thereof in order to fuse the multiplicity of polymerized structural elements (14) together to form the optical waveguide (20).