# US 10,484,120 B2 · Waveguide couplers and junctions to enable frequency division multiplexed sensor systems in autonomous vehicle

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- Number: US 10,484,120 B2
- Document ID: US10484120B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/721,868
- Filed: 2017-09-30
- Published: 2019-04-04
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-30
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Applicants: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Sasha N. Oster; Georgios C. Dogiamis; Telesphor Kamgaing; Adel A. Elsherbini; Johanna M. Swan; Erich N. Ewy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484120B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/12004: {Combinations of two or more optical elements}
- G02B 6/12007: {forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer}
- G02B 6/12019: {characterised by the optical interconnection to or from the AWG devices, e.g. integration or coupling with lasers or photodiodes (coupling integrated waveguide to fibre G02B6/30, to optoelectronic element G02B6/42; monolithic integration of integrated waveguides with other optical elements G02B6/12004)}
- G02B 6/12033: {characterised by means for configuring the device, e.g. moveable element for wavelength tuning (switching G02B6/35; thermo-optic devices G02F1/0147)}
- H01S 5/02415: {by using a thermo-electric cooler [TEC], e.g. Peltier element}
- H04B 10/506: {Multiwavelength transmitters}
- H04B 10/572: Wavelength control
- H04B 10/90: Non-optical transmission systems, e.g. transmission systems employing non-photonic corpuscular radiation
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

Embodiments include a wavelength selective communication system for use in vehicles. In an embodiment, the communication system may include a primary dielectric waveguide having a first cross-sectional area. In an embodiment, a coupling arm dielectric waveguide may be communicatively coupled to the primary dielectric waveguide. In an embodiment, the coupling arm has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first cross-sectional area. According to an embodiment, the coupling arm is communicatively coupled to the primary dielectric waveguide by a waveguide connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wavelength selective communication system, comprising:
a primary dielectric waveguide having a first cross-sectional area;
a coupling arm dielectric waveguide communicatively coupled to the primary dielectric waveguide, wherein the coupling arm has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the first cross-sectional area; and
a waveguide connector for communicatively coupling the primary dielectric waveguide to the coupling arm dielectric waveguide, wherein the waveguide connector comprises a primary portion with apertures sized to accommodate the primary dielectric waveguide and a coupling arm portion sized to accommodate the coupling arm dielectric waveguide, wherein the primary dielectric waveguide is within the primary portion of the waveguide connector, wherein the coupling arm dielectric waveguide is within the coupling arm portion of the waveguide connector, and wherein the coupling arm portion of the waveguide connector is tapered.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 1, wherein the first cross-sectional is suitable for propagating mm-wave or sub-terahertz frequency signals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 1, wherein the waveguide connector is a conductive material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 1, wherein the waveguide connector is a polymer material and comprises a conductive coating over interior surfaces of the polymer material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 1, wherein the interior of the waveguide connector is partially filled with a dielectric material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 5, wherein the dielectric material in the waveguide connector is the same material as the primary dielectric waveguide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of coupling arm dielectric waveguides communicatively coupled with the primary dielectric waveguide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of coupling arm dielectric waveguides are mechanically coupled to the primary dielectric waveguide at different angles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of coupling arm dielectric waveguides have different cross-sectional areas from each other, and wherein each of the cross-sectional areas of the plurality of coupling arm dielectric waveguides are smaller than the cross-sectional area of the primary dielectric waveguide.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The wavelength selective communication system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of coupling arm dielectric waveguides are coupled to the primary dielectric waveguide by different waveguide connectors.