Forming polymer optical devices by mold-constrained relaxation expansion
US11279105B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 22, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/06
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of making a waveguiding optical component includes processing a polymer optical material to form a billet having an axis of light transmission and having residual stress maintaining a transverse extent of the billet; placing the billet into a mold, the mold being configured to constrain transverse expansion of the billet according to a desired shape of the waveguiding optical component; and heating the billet in the mold to induce relaxation of the residual stress and corresponding transverse expansion of the billet, thereby forming the billet into the waveguiding optical component with the desired shape. An alternative method begins with a collection of individual canes or fiber segments which are fused during the heating process, bypassing a separate process of forming a billet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.