Method of forming a waveguide, and method of forming an optical path

摘要

A waveguide (116) fabrication method includes depositing a photodefinable copolymer material (14) comprising methyl methacrylate, tetrafluoropropyl methacrylate, and an epoxy monomer; fixing optical elements (10, 12) relative to the copolymer material; sending light through at least one of the optical elements and copolymer material towards the other; volatilizing uncured monomer. Another waveguide (116) fabrication method includes: fixing optical elements (110, 112) relative to each other, each having an optical surface (11, 13); providing a copolymer blob (114) over the optical surfaces with sufficient surface tension to result in the copolymer blob having a curved surface (15); sending light through each of the optical elements towards the curved surface and the other; volatilizing uncured monomer. An optical path fabrication method comprises: fixing optical elements (70, 76) relative to each other, each having an optical surface (71, 77); translating and rotating a mirror (78) until aligned to optimally direct light from one of the optical elements to the other; securing the aligned mirror in position.