Method of making a three dimensional optical circuit

US6549710B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Richard L. Simmons · Leander, US
• Curtis L. Shoemaker · Round Rock, US
• Kenneth L. Kornele · Georgetown, US
• Harry A. Loder · Austin, US
• Edward B. Lurie · Round Rock, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 16, 2002
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2003
• Expiry date: Apr 16, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3885
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of making a three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is provided. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle.