Patent ID: 7760979

Claim:
An optical transmission medium for communicating optical signals along an optical path, comprising: a first solid-core waveguide portion defining a first portion of the optical path, the first solid-core waveguide portion formed in a solid material having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first solid-core waveguide portion having a first wing portion co-formed with a remaining portion of the first solid-core waveguide portion; and a second solid-core waveguide portion defining a second portion of the optical path, the second solid-core waveguide portion co-formed in the solid material with the first solid-core waveguide portion and aligned at an angle of substantially 90 degrees to the first solid-core waveguide portion, the second solid-core waveguide portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second solid-core waveguide portion having a second wing portion co-formed with a remaining portion of the second solid-core waveguide portion, the first end of the first solid-core waveguide portion meeting the first end of the second solid-core waveguide portion at a junction region defined by a cavity in the solid material, the cavity defining a discontinuity between the first solid-core waveguide portion and air in the cavity, the discontinuity having a first end, a second end, and a radius of curvature, the discontinuity forming a total internal reflection interface between the first end of the first solid-core waveguide portion and the first end of the second solid-core waveguide portion, the total internal reflection interface causing a substantial portion of the optical signals communicated along the optical path to traverse a substantially 90-degree bend between the first solid-core waveguide portion and the second solid-core waveguide portion, the first wing portion extending along the first end of the discontinuity in alignment with the discontinuity, the second wing portion extending along the second end of the discontinuity in alignment with the discontinuity.