Flexible waveguide having an asymmetric optical-loss performance curve and improved worst-case optical-loss performance

An optical coupling system comprising:

• an optical fiber communicatively coupled to a flexible waveguide structure;
• a photonic integrated circuit communicatively coupled to the flexible waveguide structure;
• wherein the flexible waveguide comprises a multi-segmented optical waveguide comprising:
• a first waveguide segment comprising a set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters;
• a second waveguide segment communicatively coupled to the first waveguide segment and configured to route optical data through a routing path having bends, the second waveguide segment comprising a set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters;
• and
• a third waveguide segment communicatively coupled to the second waveguide segment and comprising a set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters;
• wherein the multi-segmented optical waveguide is configured to guide optical data according to an asymmetric optical-loss performance curve that is substantially asymmetrical with respect to a peak optical-loss performance level of the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve;
• wherein the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve comprises a plot of:
• the set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters, the set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters, and the set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a first axis;
• and
• a level of optical-loss performance that results from the set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters, the set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters, and the set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a second axis;
• wherein the set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters, the set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters, and the set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters are configured to, collectively, maximize a worst-case optical-loss performance of the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve within the range of fabrication tolerances.

A method of using a flexible waveguide having waveguide dimensions that are within a range of fabrication tolerances, the method comprising:

• using the flexible waveguide to couple optical signals in a first direction from an optical fiber to a photonic integrated circuit;
• and
• using the flexible waveguide to couple optical signals in a second direction from the photonic integrated circuit to the optical fiber;
• wherein the flexible waveguide comprises a multi-segmented optical waveguide comprising:
• a first waveguide segment comprising a set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters;
• a second waveguide segment communicatively coupled to the first waveguide segment and configured to route optical data through a routing path having bends, the second waveguide segment comprising a set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters;
• and
• a third waveguide segment communicatively coupled to the second waveguide segment and comprising a set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters;
• wherein the multi-segmented optical waveguide is configured to guide optical data according to an asymmetric optical-loss performance curve that is substantially asymmetrical with respect to a peak optical-loss performance level of the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve;
• wherein the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve comprises a plot of:
• the set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters, the set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters, and the set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a first axis;
• and
• a level of optical-loss performance that results from the set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters, the set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters, and the set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters on a second axis;
• and
• wherein the set of first waveguide segment confinement parameters, the set of second waveguide segment confinement parameters, and the set of third waveguide segment confinement parameters are configured to, collectively, maximize a predetermined worst-case optical-loss performance level of the asymmetric optical-loss performance curve within the range of fabrication tolerances.