Method of forming an optical coupling waveguide and a lightguide device having the optical coupling waveguide

摘要

A method of forming a polymeric optical coupling waveguide (1) on a principal lightguide (6) including a lightguiding layer (2), which comprises the steps of applying a photopolymerizable monomer or a photocrosslinkable or photopolymerizable polymer or a mixture thereof onto the principal lightguide (6), curing the polymeric optical coupling waveguide (1) by exposure through a mask, and removing the unreacted area of the applied coat with a suitable solvent. Other methods are exposure and solubilizing of a photosolubilizable polymer or photolithographic patterning of the cured polymer. The coupling waveguide may be tapered, with the bigger cross section towards the end face. <IMAGE>