# US 2025/0147244 A1 · Multi-tip waveguide coupler with improved alignment guidance

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- Number: US 2025/0147244 A1
- Document ID: US20250147244A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/012,571
- Filed: 2025-01-07
- Published: 2025-05-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-11
- Assignees: MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
- Applicants: MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
- Inventors: Sean P. Anderson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250147244A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/305: {and having an integrated mode-size expanding section, e.g. tapered waveguide}
- G02B 6/4206: {Optical features (G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence)}
- G02B 6/42: Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B 6/4228: {Passive alignment, i.e. without a detection of the degree of coupling or the position of the elements (G02B6/4234 takes precedence)}
- G02B 6/4296: {coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a multi-tip laser coupler with improved alignment guidance. A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes an input interface, an output interface, and a waveguide array. The waveguide array includes a first waveguide, a second waveguide, and a third waveguide. The first waveguide and the third waveguide are coupled to the input interface and are not coupled to the output interface. The second waveguide is coupled to the input interface and the output interface. Further, the second waveguide is positioned parallel to and between the first waveguide and a third waveguide. The second waveguide includes a tapered body such that an output end of the second waveguide coupled to the output interface is wider than an input end of the second waveguide coupled to the input interface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optoelectronic system, comprising:
a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising an input interface having an end face, an output interface, and a waveguide array, wherein the waveguide array comprises:
a first waveguide intersecting the end face of the input interface and not extending to the output interface;
a second waveguide intersecting the end face of the input interface and the output interface, the second waveguide being positioned parallel to and between the first waveguide and a third waveguide, the second waveguide comprising a tapered body such that an output end of the second waveguide coupled to the output interface is wider than an input end of the second waveguide coupled to the input interface; and
the third waveguide, the third waveguide intersecting the end face of the input interface and not extending to the output interface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optoelectronic system of claim 1, wherein:
the first waveguide has a first waveguide length;
the second waveguide has a second waveguide length;
the third waveguide has a third waveguide length;
the first waveguide length is substantially similar to the third waveguide length; and
the second waveguide length is greater than the first waveguide length and the third waveguide length.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optoelectronic system of claim 1, further comprising an optical element coupled to the photonic integrated circuit, the optical element being configured to provide an input beam at the end face of the input interface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optoelectronic system of claim 1, wherein the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide are formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optoelectronic system of claim 1, wherein the first waveguide and the third waveguide have uniform, non-tapered bodies.

### Claim 6

A waveguide array, comprising:
a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising a plurality of waveguides, all of the plurality of waveguides being positioned in a first layer of the photonic integrated circuit (PIC),
the plurality of waveguides comprising:
a first waveguide;
a second waveguide positioned between the first waveguide and a third waveguide, the second waveguide comprising a tapered body; and
the third waveguide, wherein the first waveguide and the third waveguide each have a length less than that of the second waveguide, wherein a first end of each of the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide are aligned.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes an input interface and an output interface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The waveguide array of claim 7, wherein:
the first waveguide is coupled to the input interface and does not extend to the output interface; and
the third waveguide is coupled to the input interface and does not extend to the output interface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein the photonic integrated circuit is coupled to an optical element, the optical element being configured to provide an input beam at the input interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein the waveguide array comprises only the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein an output end of the second waveguide is wider than an input end of the second waveguide.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein:
the first waveguide has a first waveguide length;
the second waveguide has a second waveguide length;
the third waveguide has a third waveguide length;
the first waveguide length is substantially similar to the third waveguide length; and
the second waveguide length is greater than the first waveguide length and the third waveguide length.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein the first waveguide is positioned parallel to the second waveguide, and the second waveguide is positioned parallel to third waveguide.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide are formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 6)

The waveguide array of claim 6, wherein the first waveguide and the third waveguide have uniform, non-tapered bodies.

### Claim 16

A method of providing a waveguide array, comprising:
forming a first waveguide in a first layer of a material;
forming a second waveguide in the first layer of the material, the second waveguide comprising a tapered body; and
forming a third waveguide in the first layer of the material, wherein the first waveguide and the third waveguide as formed each have a length less than that of the second waveguide, the second waveguide being parallel to and between the first waveguide and the third waveguide, each of the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide intersecting an end face of an input interface of the first layer of the material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), wherein the waveguide array is formed in the photonic integrated circuit, the photonic integrated circuit comprising an input interface and an output interface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
the first waveguide is coupled to the input interface and does not extend to the output interface; and
the third waveguide is coupled to the input interface and does not extend to the output interface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein:
the photonic integrated circuit is coupled to an optical element, the optical element being configured to provide an input beam at the input interface;
the waveguide array comprises only the first waveguide, the second waveguide, and the third waveguide; and
an output end of the second waveguide is wider than an input end of the second waveguide.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein:
the first waveguide has a first waveguide length;
the second waveguide has a second waveguide length;
the third waveguide has a third waveguide length;
the first waveguide length is substantially similar to the third waveguide length; and
the second waveguide length is greater than the first waveguide length and the third waveguide length.