# US 12,216,314 B2 · Optical module

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- Number: US 12,216,314 B2
- Document ID: US12216314B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/527,640
- Filed: 2021-11-16
- Published: 2022-05-19
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-11-18
- Assignees: Aio Core Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Aio Core Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Shigeru Kobayashi; Kazuhiro Shiba; Mitsuru Kurihara; Kazuhiko Kurata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216314B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/4214: {the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence)}
- G02B 6/4206: {Optical features (G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence)}
- G02B 6/305: {and having an integrated mode-size expanding section, e.g. tapered waveguide}
- G02B 6/4259: {of the transparent type}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

Provided is an optical module having high efficiency in optical coupling to a functional element on a substrate. An optical module includes: a first optical waveguide disposed parallel to a substrate; a condensing mirror configured to reflect and condense light propagated in the first optical waveguide toward the substrate; a second optical waveguide formed in a tapered shape narrowed toward the substrate, the second optical waveguide guiding the light reflected by the condensing mirror to the vicinity of the surface of the substrate; and an optical function unit disposed on the substrate such that the light emitted from the second optical waveguide is incident on the optical function unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical module comprising:
a first optical waveguide disposed parallel to a substrate;
a condensing mirror configured to reflect and condense light propagated in the first optical waveguide toward the substrate;
a second optical waveguide that guides the light reflected by the condensing mirror to a vicinity of a surface of the substrate, the second optical waveguide having a first end on the first optical waveguide side and a second end on the substrate side, the first end having a first diameter and the second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, and the second optical waveguide formed in a tapered shape gradually narrowing from the first end to the second end; and
an optical function unit disposed on the substrate such that the light emitted from the second optical waveguide is incident on the optical function unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the condensing mirror is a mirror formed on an end face of the first optical waveguide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the condensing mirror is a mirror having the end face of the first optical waveguide as a total reflective surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the condensing mirror is an internal reflective surface of a prism disposed in contact with an emitting end face of the first optical waveguide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The optical module according to claim 2, wherein a metal film or a dielectric film is provided between the condensing mirror and air.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical module according to claim 1, wherein
the condensing mirror is disposed away from the emitting end face of the first optical waveguide, and
a space between the condensing mirror and the emitting end face of the first optical waveguide is filled with a transparent solid medium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical module according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent film on the substrate,
wherein
the second optical waveguide is erected vertically or obliquely to a surface of the substrate,
the optical function unit is a light-receiving element,
light emitted from the second optical waveguide is incident on the light-receiving element via the transparent film, and
a diameter of the end of the second optical waveguide on the substrate side is smaller than an effective light-receiving diameter of the light-receiving element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The optical module according to claim 7, wherein the diameter of the end of the second optical waveguide on the substrate side is set such that a spot size of light emitted from the end on the light-receiving element is the same or substantially the same as the effective light-receiving diameter of the light-receiving element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The optical module according to claim 7, wherein the transparent film is an ultraviolet (UV) absorbing film.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The optical module according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent film on the substrate,
wherein
the second optical waveguide is erected vertically or obliquely to the surface of the substrate,
the optical function unit is a light-receiving element,
the transparent film has a hole or a recess in a portion corresponding to the light-receiving element, and
the end of the second optical waveguide on the substrate side is brought into the hole or the recess of the transparent film.