| 摘要 |
<p>An embossed optical waveguide for light transmission and a method for creating a master and for generating the embossed optical waveguide therefrom. Optical elements (142, 143, 145) can be formed in a layer of polymer (133) after it is cured by reactive ion etching or ion beam milling. The polymer layer (133) which has an index of refraction of 1.55 or greater is bonded to a substrate (135), which is preferably polypropylene, having an index of refraction of preferably 1.50 or less. Since the refractive index of air is approximately 1.0, the polymer layer is sandwiched between two layers of low refractive material. The differences between the indices of refraction cause light projected into the polymer layer (133) to be guided in the polymer layer by total internal reflection. Furthermore, once the optical elements (142, 143, 145) have been formed in the polymer layer, it can be used as a master for generating embossments. The embossments are preferably generated by placing liquid polymer in contact with the master, curing it, and separating the cured polymer embossment from the master.</p> |
