Optical light guides and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

Fabricating light guide elements includes forming a first portion of the light guide element using a replication technique (104), and forming a second portion of the light guide element using a photolithographic technique (106). Use of replication can facilitate formation of more complex-shaped optical elements as part of the light guide element. The replication process sometimes results in the formation of a “yard,” or excess replication material, which may lead to light leakage if not removed or smoothed over. In some instances, at least part of the yard portion is embedded within the second portion of the light guide element, thereby resulting in a smoothing over of the yard portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.