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INVENTORS: Simmons; Richard L. (Leander, TX); Shoemaker; Curtis L. (Round Rock, TX); Kornele; Kenneth L. (Georgetown, TX); Loder; Harry A. (Austin, TX); Lurie; Edward B. (Round Rock, TX)
ASSIGNEES: 3M Innovative Properties Company (St. Paul, MN)
U.S. CLASS: 385/121; 385/114; 385/115; 385/116
ABSTRACT: A method of making a three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is provided. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography ("SLA"), fused deposition modeling ("FDM"), selective laser sintering ("SLS"), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. XX
