Optical splitter array
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorTerrel Morris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical splitter array can include a single branched waveguide core situated on a planar substrate and having an input optically connected to n outputs via n−1 splitters, where n is an integer of at least 2. The array can also include a single cladding layer overlying the single branched waveguide core from the input to the outputs, and a plurality of alignment channels aligned with the input and the outputs.
Claims15
An optical splitter array, comprising:
- a planar substrate;
- a single branched waveguide core situated on the planar substrate and having an input and n outputs optically connected to the input via n−1 splitters, wherein n is an integer of at least 2;
- a single cladding layer overlying the single branched waveguide core from the input to the outputs;
- and
- a plurality of alignment channels aligned with the input and the outputs.
A method of making an optical power splitter array, comprising:
- forming a planar substrate;
- placing a forming structure on the planar substrate, said forming structure comprising:
- a branched cavity including an input end and n output ends connected to the input end via including n−1 bifurcations, wherein n is an integer of at least 2;
- and
- a plurality of alignment features each aligned with the input end and output ends;
- filling the branched cavity with a core material to form on the planar substrate a single branched waveguide core having an input and n outputs optically connected to the input via n−1 splitters and form an alignment channel aligned with an output end and from which core material is excluded;
- and
- depositing a single cladding coating on the single branched waveguide core.
A method of splitting an optical signal, comprising sending an optical signal into an input of an optical splitter array and receiving the optical signal at n outputs, said optical signal being split at n−1 splitters, where n is an integer of at least 2, said optical splitter array comprising a single branched waveguide core 10 situated on a planar substrate, and a single cladding coating overlying the single branched waveguide core from the input to the outputs, wherein the single branched waveguide core utilizes total internal reflection at all points along a path of an optical signal from the input to the outputs for purposes of signal containment, and wherein a ratio of the power of the optical signal between the input and all collective outputs is equal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.