US 2016/0103282 A1 · OPTICAL DEVICE USING ECHELLE GRATING THAT PROVIDES TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION OF LIGHT

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for an optical device having a semiconductor layer to propagate light and a mirror disposed inside the semiconductor layer and having echelle grating reflective surface to substantially totally internally reflect the propagating light inputted by one or more input waveguides, to be received by one or more output waveguides. The waveguides may be disposed in the semiconductor layer under a determined angle relative to the mirror reflective surface. The determined angle may be equal to or greater than a total internal reflection angle corresponding to the interface, to provide substantially total internal reflection of light by the mirror. The mirror may be formed by an interface of the semiconductor layer comprising the mirror reflective surface and another medium filling the mirror, such as a dielectric. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical apparatus comprising:

a semiconductor layer to propagate light from at least one light source;
a mirror having echelle grating reflective surface that is provided on a facet of a trench substantially disposed inside the semiconductor layer, to reflect and refocus the propagating light;
at least one input optical waveguide disposed inside the semiconductor layer to spatially disperse the propagating light onto the mirror;
and
at least one output optical waveguide disposed inside the semiconductor layer to receive at least a portion of light reflected by the mirror,
wherein the input and output optical waveguides are disposed under a determined angle relative to the mirror reflective surface, to provide substantially total internal reflection of light by the mirror, and wherein at least one of the at least one of the input and output optical waveguides is disposed at a determined distance from the mirror reflective surface, to reduce loss of light.

3 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;
and
an optical device coupled with the processor to transmit data provided by the processor or to receive data to be provided to the processor, wherein the optical device comprises:
a semiconductor layer to propagate light generated by a light source, wherein the generated light carries the data in a form of optical signals;
a mirror having echelle grating reflective surface that is provided on a facet of a trench substantially disposed inside the semiconductor layer, to reflect and refocus the propagating light;
at least one input optical waveguide disposed inside the semiconductor layer to spatially disperse the propagating light onto the mirror;
and at least one output optical waveguide disposed inside the semiconductor layer to receive at least a portion of light reflected by the mirror,
wherein the input and output optical waveguides are disposed under a determined angle relative to the mirror reflective surface, to provide substantially total internal reflection of light by the mirror, and wherein at least one of the at least one of the input and output optical waveguides is disposed at a determined distance from the mirror reflective surface, to reduce loss of light.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical device using echelle grating that provides total internal reflection of light

Life of this patent

Optical device using echelle grating that provides total internal reflection of light

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20