Patent ID: 7697807

Claim:
An optical component comprising: a support structure having a first composition including a recessive phase material and a second composition including protrusive phase material, said protrusive phase material comprising a plurality of discrete, spaced apart optical fibers extending from a proximal end of said support structure to a distal end of said support structure, wherein each of said discrete, spaced apart optical fiber comprises a sharp surface feature extending from said distal end of said support structure, each of said sharp surface features comprising a distal end opposite said support structure, integrated with said support structure, and protruding distally from a surface of said distal end of said support structure, each of said sharp surface features reducing in cross sectional area distally from said support structure to provide a lowest cross sectional area at said distal end, said recessive phase material supporting and separating said surface features and defining a contiguous recessed surface area between said surface features, at least two of said protrusive features being characterized as optical waveguides, wherein said protrusive phase and said recessive phase are differentially etchable by an etchant.