Waveguide antenna

Abstract

An interface device for performing off-chip coupling in optical waveguides includes an optical waveguide core for propagating light of a particular wavelength or a plurality of wavelengths and an array of radiative elements configured to change the propagation direction of the light. The optical waveguide core is configured to control the effective refractive index of the propagation mode of the light. The device can thus serve as an optical antenna for coupling between a waveguide mode and a free-space propagating beam or a plurality of free-space propagating beams in an arrayed configuration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.