Micro-Truss Structures Having In-Plane Structural Members

摘要

An enhanced self-writing method for generating in-plane (horizontally-oriented) polymer lightguides that includes disposing one or more light deflecting structures in or on the upper surface of a uncured layer that deflect incident collimated light beams in a transverse direction (i.e., parallel to the uncured layer top layer surface), whereby the deflected collimated light beam polymerizes a corresponding elongated portion of the uncured material in a self-propagating manner to form in-plane polymer lightguides. When used in the fabrication of micro-truss structures, the in-plane polymer lightguides are linked to diagonal polymer lightguides to form superior truss configurations, such as that of the ideal octet-truss structure. Non-polymerized portions of the uncured layer are removed to expose the micro-truss structure for further processing.

主权项

1. A method for forming a micro-truss structure, the method comprising:
forming an uncured layer on a support surface such that the uncured layer includes at least one light deflecting structures disposed between an upper surface of the uncured layer and the support surface; directing collimated light beams through the upper surface of the uncured layer at parallel first incident angles such that each collimated light beam:
polymerizes a first elongated portion of the uncured layer to form a first self-propagating polymer lightguide section extending between the upper surface of the uncured layer and an associated light deflecting structure of said plurality of light deflecting structures, anddeflects from said associated light deflecting structure such that said deflected collimated light beam polymerizes a second elongated portion of the uncured layer to form a second self-propagating polymer lightguide section extending from said associated light deflecting structure into said uncured layer.