# US 2022/0035100 A1 · Optical Circuit and Optical Connection Structure

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- Number: US 2022/0035100 A1
- Document ID: US20220035100A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/276,956
- Filed: 2019-09-12
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-19
- Assignees: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
- Applicants: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
- Inventors: Yusuke Muranaka; Kota Shikama; Hidetaka Nishi; Ai Yanagihara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220035100A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/30: for use between fibre and thin-film device
- G02B 6/4249: {comprising arrays of active devices and fibres}
- 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 6/422: {Active alignment, i.e. moving the elements in response to the detected degree of coupling or position of the elements (G02B6/4233, G02B6/4234 take precedence)}
- G02B 6/4221: {involving a visual detection of the position of the elements, e.g. by using a microscope or a camera}
- G02B 6/4225: {by a direct measurement of the degree of coupling, e.g. the amount of light power coupled to the fibre or the opto-electronic element}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

Optical alignment between an optical waveguide device and an optical connection part is realized easily and at low cost. An optical circuit in which optical waveguides to be connected to optical fibers are formed includes: an alignment optical waveguide configured to be opposed to, on an optical waveguide edge face to which an optical connection part having guide holes for insertion of core wires of the optical fibers is to be fixed, a guide hole into which an alignment optical fiber is to be inserted; and a light path changing member configured to change a path of light to a vertical direction with respect to the optical axis direction of the core of the alignment optical waveguide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical circuit in which optical waveguides to be connected to optical fibers are formed, comprising:
an alignment optical waveguide configured to be opposed to, on an optical waveguide edge face to which an optical connection part having guide holes for insertion of core wires of the optical fibers is to be fixed, a guide hole into which an alignment optical fiber is to be inserted; and
a light path changing member configured to change a path of light to a vertical direction with respect to an optical axis direction of a core of the alignment optical waveguide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the light path changing member is an inclined surface of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction of the core of the alignment optical waveguide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical circuit according to claim 1, wherein the light path changing member is a scattering substance connected to the core of the alignment optical waveguide.

### Claim 4

An optical connection structure for connecting an optical waveguide device and optical fibers, comprising:
an optical connection part that has guide holes for insertion of core wires of the optical fibers; and
an optical circuit including an alignment optical waveguide that connects an optical waveguide edge face to which the optical connection part is fixed, and a light path changing member configured to change a path of light to a vertical direction with respect to an optical axis direction of a core of the alignment optical waveguide, wherein the alignment optical waveguide is opposed to a guide hole into which an alignment optical fiber is to be inserted, and optical alignment of the optical connection part is performed.

### Claim 5

An optical connection structure for connecting an optical waveguide device and optical fibers, wherein, on an optical waveguide edge face to which an optical connection part having guide holes for insertion of core wires of the optical fibers is fixed, an alignment optical waveguide that connects the optical waveguide edge face and a light path changing member configured to change a path of light to a vertical direction with respect to an optical axis direction of a core of the alignment optical waveguide is opposed to a guide hole into which an alignment optical fiber is to be inserted, and optical alignment of the optical connection part is performed, and thereby the optical connection part is fixed to the optical waveguide device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The optical connection structure according to claim 4, wherein the light path changing member is an inclined surface of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction of the core of the alignment optical waveguide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The optical connection structure according to claim 4, wherein the light path changing member is a scattering substance connected to the core of the alignment optical waveguide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The optical connection structure according to claim 5, wherein the light path changing member is an inclined surface of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis direction of the core of the alignment optical waveguide.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The optical connection structure according to claim 5, wherein the light path changing member is a scattering substance connected to the core of the alignment optical waveguide.