Method for the manufacture of optical components, and optical component

US6178281A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Helmut Sautter · Ditzingen, DE
• Jörg Blechschmidt · Zornheim, DE
• Rainer Schink · Leonberg, DE
• Jurgen Graf · Wels, AT
• Peter E. Loeffler · Los Gatos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 23, 2001
• Expiry date: Oct 30, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2006/12195
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for the manufacture of optical components, at least one three-dimensional optical waveguide structure being produced in a light-sensitive substrate by locally subjecting the substrate to an exposure so that a difference in refractive index between the substrate and the at least one optical waveguide structure is created. Provision is made for an exposure to occur at least twice, at different angles of incidence for the light perpendicular to a light wave propagation direction of the optical waveguide structure; the substrate surrounding what will later be the optical waveguide structure thereby experiences a diminution in refractive index, the optical waveguide structure being defined using a mask.