# US 11,442,234 B2 · Device and method for transferring light between at least one optoelectronic component and at least one optical waveguide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,234 B2 - Document ID: US11442234B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/042,705 - Filed: 2018-03-29 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-29 - Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. - Applicants: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. - Inventors: Wolfgang Schade; Martin Angelmahr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442234B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/4215: {the intermediate optical elements being wavelength selective optical elements, e.g. variable wavelength optical modules or wavelength lockers (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/02085: {characterised by the grating profile, e.g. chirped, apodised, tilted, helical} - G02B 6/0229: {characterised by nanostructures, i.e. structures of size less than 100 nm, e.g. quantum dots} - G02B 6/29317: {Light guides of the optical fibre type} - G02B 6/29323: {Coupling to or out of the diffractive element through the lateral surface of the light guide (evanescent grating couplers G02B6/29332)} - G02B 6/29385: {Channel monitoring, e.g. by tapping (channel monitoring in optical transmission systems H04B10/07)} - G02B 6/4287: {Optical modules with tapping or launching means through the surface of the waveguide (G02B6/2852, G02B6/4286 take precedence)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A device may be provided comprising at least one optoelectronic component and at least one optical waveguide, which are configured to transfer light between the optoelectronic component and the optical waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide contains at least one first longitudinal portion in which at least one Bragg grating is introduced, which has a grating constant which is variable along the longitudinal extent of said Bragg grating, and the optoelectronic component is arranged at a lateral distance from the optical waveguide. Alternatively or in addition, a method may be provided for transferring light between at least one optoelectronic component and at least one optical waveguide. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising at least one optoelectronic component and at least one optical waveguide, said optoelectronic component and said optical waveguide configured to transfer light between each other, and wherein the optical waveguide comprises: at least one first longitudinal section comprising at least one Bragg grating having a variable grating constant along its longitudinal extent, the at least one Bragg grating configured to permit light having a predetermined wavelength to be transmitted through the at least one Bragg grating; and a plurality of scattering centers at least in said first longitudinal section, wherein the optoelectronic component is arranged at the side of said optical waveguide and at a lateral distance therefrom, wherein the scattering centers are configured to scatter the light having the predetermined wavelength laterally out of the at least one optical waveguide. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the scattering centers are formed by dispersed nanoparticles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the scattering centers have a diameter of about 10 nm to about 100 nm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the scattering centers have a concentration of about 0.1% to about 5% by volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein said Bragg grating with the variable grating constant along the longitudinal extent is configured to focus light of a wavelength λn on a plane arranged parallel to the optical waveguide at a given distance d by selecting the grating constant of said Bragg grating such that light of a first wavelength λ1 is scattered at a first angle α1 at a first location having a first grating constant A1 of the Bragg grating and light of a second wavelength λ2 is scattered at a second angle α2 at a second location having a second grating constant A2 of the Bragg grating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the optoelectronic component comprises a superluminescent diode, a photodiode, a CCD sensor, and/or a laser diode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the grating constant A of the Bragg grating changes along the longitudinal extent with a linear relationship, a square relationship, and/or a cubic relationship. ### Claim 8 A method for sensing a mechanical stress, a change in length, and/or a temperature change by transferring light between at least one optoelectronic component and at least one optical waveguide, wherein said optical waveguide comprises at least one first longitudinal section comprising at least one Bragg grating and a plurality of scattering centers, said Bragg grating having a variable grating constant along its longitudinal extent, said Bragg prating configured to permit light having a predetermined wavelength to be transmitted through the at least one Bragg grating to the scattering centers, wherein the scattering centers are configured to scatter the light having the predetermined wavelength laterally out of said optical waveguide, and wherein the optoelectronic component is arranged at the side of said optical waveguide and at a lateral distance thereof, and wherein said optical waveguide further comprises at least one second fiber Bragg grating arranged in at least one second longitudinal section of the optical waveguide and said second fiber Bragg grating is subject to a mechanical stress, a change in length, and/or a temperature change, and wherein light is at least partially reflected at said second fiber Bragg grating and scattered at least in the first longitudinal section at least partly into said optoelectronic component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein light of a wavelength λn is focused on a plane arranged parallel to the optical waveguide at a given distance d by selecting the grating constant of said Bragg grating such that light of a first wavelength λ1 is scattered at a first angle α1 at a first location having a first grating constant A1 of the Bragg grating and light of a second wavelength λ2 is scattered at a second angle α2 at a second location having a second grating constant A2 of the Bragg grating. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising subjecting at least one second fiber Bragg grating arranged in at least one second longitudinal section of the optical waveguide to a mechanical stress, a change in length, and/or a temperature change. ### Claim 11 A device comprising at least one optoelectronic component and at least one optical waveguide, said optoelectronic component and said optical waveguide configured to transfer light between each other, and wherein the optical waveguide comprises: at least one longitudinal section comprising at least one Bragg grating and a plurality of scattering centers, said Bragg grating having a variable grating constant along its longitudinal extent, the Bragg grating configured to permit light having a predetermined wavelength to be transmitted through the Bragg grating, wherein the scattering centers are configured to scatter the light having the predetermined wavelength laterally out of said optical waveguide, wherein said scattering centers are formed by local modifications of the material of the optical waveguide, by laser radiation and/or by dispersed nanoparticles, and wherein the optoelectronic component is arranged at the side of said optical waveguide and at a lateral distance therefrom. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the scattering centers have a diameter of about 10 nm to about 100 nm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the scattering centers have a concentration of about 0.1% to about 5% by volume. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein said Bragg grating with the variable grating constant along the longitudinal section is configured to focus light of a wavelength λn on a plane arranged parallel to the optical waveguide at a given distance d by selecting the grating constant of said Bragg grating such that light of a first wavelength λ1 is scattered at a first angle α1 at a first location having a first grating constant A1 of the Bragg grating and light of a second wavelength λ2 is scattered at a second angle α2 at a second location having a second grating constant A2 of the Bragg grating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the optoelectronic component comprises a superluminescent diode, a photodiode, a CCD sensor, and/or a laser diode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein the grating constant A of the Bragg grating changes along the longitudinal extent with a linear relationship, a square relationship, and/or a cubic relationship. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the scattering centers are formed by local modifications of the material of the optical waveguide by laser radiation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one second longitudinal section, wherein at least one second fiber Bragg grating is arranged in the at least one second longitudinal section of the optical waveguide and configured to detect a mechanical stress, a change in length, and/or a temperature change.