Modular optical waveguide and method for making

A detachable optical waveguide module comprising:

• a plurality of repeating optical waveguide modules with each of the plurality of repeating optical waveguide modules including a multitude of core channels surrounded by a cladding region, wherein the cladding region forms a first external surface and a second external surface that are parallel with the core regions therebetween;
• a plurality of grooves disposed into the first external surface of the cladding region that segments each individual waveguide module by having a first groove and a second groove of the plurality of grooves located along a width and in the cladding region to segment each multitude of core channels from each other;
• a plurality of grooves disposed into the second external surface that are aligned to the plurality of grooves disposed into the first external surface, thereby enabling a desired length to be detached from an optical waveguide module;
• and
• an alignment guide located between the first and the second plurality of grooves.

A method for making a detachable optical waveguide module comprising the steps of:

• molding a first optical piece having a first external surface and a second external surface, the first external surface having repeating modules with each repeating module including a plurality of channels and a first and a second alignment guide with the first alignment guide located on a first side of the channels and the second alignment guide located on a second side of the channels, the second external surface having repeating parallel grooves traversing across a width of the second external surface
• molding a second optical piece having a first external surface and a second external surface with the first external surface of the second optical piece having a plurality of parallel grooves equidistantly spaced;
• and
• adhering the first external surface of the second optical piece of the first external surface of the first optical piece with an optically clear adhesive, wherein the plurality of grooves of the first optical piece is aligned to the second optical piece, thereby enabling alignment of the optical waveguide module.

A modular optical waveguide comprising:

• a plurality of optical modules each module having a core region surrounded by a cladding region, wherein the cladding region provides a first and a second external surface opposite to each other;
• a first groove and a second groove disposed into the first and the second external surfaces of the cladding regions separating the plurality of optical modules, wherein the first and the second groove are space such that the core region of each optical module is between the first groove and the second groove;
• and
• an alignment guide located in the cladding region.

A modular optical waveguide comprising:

• a plurality of optical modules each module having a core region surrounded by a cladding region, wherein the cladding region provides a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface opposite to each other;
• at least a groove disposed into one of the first and the second exterior surfaces, thereby allowing a predetermined length of optical modules to be detached;
• and
• an alignment guide located in at least one of the plurality of optical modules.