Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of joining glass elements with material continuity, to a glass component, to a housing, and to a vacuum insulating panel. The method comprises the following steps providing first and second glass elements, with each of the glass elements having at least one joining region having an outer edge to be joined, introducing a metallic material into the first glass element in the region of the joining region of the first glass element, placing the first and second glass elements onto one another such that the first and second glass elements contact one another at least at one outer edge of the respective joining region; and heating the metallic material in the first glass element so that the glass element at least partially melts in the region of the joining region of the first glass element so that a connection with material continuity is produced between the first and second glass elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carrier system for micro-optical and/or other functional elements of microtechnology, including a base plate and one or more retaining elements for the functional elements that are secured on the base plate. The suggested carrier system is characterized by the fact that the retaining elements are constructed partly or entirely from multiple thin, stacked plates that have a plate thickness of less than 1 mm. In this way, retaining elements for example made from glass or glass ceramic may be created extremely precisely in practically any geometrical shape.