# US 2026/0086366 A1 · Optical coupler, optical coupling member, optical coupling member with optical modulation function, visible light source module, optical engine and xr glasses

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- Number: US 2026/0086366 A1
- Document ID: US20260086366A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/218,765
- Filed: 2025-05-27
- Published: 2026-03-26
- Earliest claimed: 2024-05-31
- Assignees: TDK Corporation
- Applicants: TDK Corporation
- Inventors: Yasuhiro TAKAGI; Hiroki HARA; Atsushi SHIMURA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260086366A1

## CPC

- G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features}
- G02B 6/2813: {based on multimode interference effect, i.e. self-imaging}
- G02F 1/035: in an optical waveguide structure
- G02F 1/212: {Mach-Zehnder type}
- G02B 2027/0112: {comprising device for genereting colour display}
- G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)}
- G02F 2202/20: LiNbO3, LiTaO3
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

An optical coupler of the present disclosure couples laser light beams with a plurality of different wavelengths, and includes an MMI connected optical coupling unit formed by connecting a first MMI type optical coupling element that shifts an incidence position and a second MMI type optical coupling element having a width wider than the width of the first MMI type optical coupling element, one or more first light input side optical waveguides that are connected to the first MMI type optical coupling element, one or more second light input side optical waveguides that are connected to the second MMI type optical coupling element and one light output side optical waveguide that is connected to the second MMI type optical coupling element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical coupler that couples laser light beams with a plurality of different wavelengths, comprising:
from the input side, an MMI connected optical coupling unit formed by connecting a first MMI type optical coupling element that shifts an incidence position and a second MMI type optical coupling element having a width wider than the width of the first MMI type optical coupling element;
one or more first light input side optical waveguides that are connected to the first MMI type optical coupling element;
one or more second light input side optical waveguides that are connected to the second MMI type optical coupling element; and
one light output side optical waveguide that is connected to the second MMI type optical coupling element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical coupler according to claim 1,
wherein the first light input side optical waveguide, the second light input side optical waveguide and the light output side optical waveguide all have a tapered part whose width increases continuously toward the MMI connected optical coupling unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical coupler according to claim 1,
wherein the number of first light input side optical waveguides is two.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical coupler according to claim 1,
wherein the width of the first MMI type optical coupling element is ⅔ of the width of the second MMI type optical coupling element or less.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical coupler according to claim 1,
wherein the length of the first MMI type optical coupling element is 2 μm or more.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical coupler according to claim 1,
wherein the plurality of different wavelengths are all visible light wavelengths.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An optical coupling member, comprising:
a substrate made of a material different from lithium niobate; and
a lithium niobate film formed on the main surface of the substrate,
wherein the optical coupler according to claim 1 is formed on the lithium niobate film.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A visible light source module, comprising:
the optical coupling member according to claim 7; and
a plurality of visible laser light sources that emit visible light beams that are coupled by the optical coupling member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

An optical coupling member with an optical modulation function, comprising:
the optical coupling member according to claim 7; and
a Mach-Zehnder type optical modulator that is connected to the optical coupling member and guides a plurality of visible light beams emitted from a plurality of visible laser light sources to the optical coupler.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A visible light source module, comprising:
the optical coupling member with an optical modulation function according to claim 9; and
a plurality of visible laser light sources that emit visible light beams that are coupled by the optical coupler with an optical modulation function,
wherein the plurality of visible laser light sources are visible laser light sources for red light, green light, and blue light.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

An optical engine, comprising:
the visible light source module according to claim 8; and
an optical scanning mirror that reflects light emitted from the visible light source module at different angles so that an image is displayed.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

An optical engine, comprising:
the visible light source module according to claim 10; and
an optical scanning mirror that reflects light emitted from the visible light source module at different angles so that an image is displayed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

XR glasses in which the optical engine according to claim 11 is mounted.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

XR glasses in which the optical engine according to claim 12 is mounted.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

An optical coupling member, comprising:
a substrate made of a material different from lithium niobate; and
a lithium niobate film formed on the main surface of the substrate,
wherein the optical coupler according to claim 2 is formed on the lithium niobate film.

### Claim 16 (depends on 3)

An optical coupling member, comprising:
a substrate made of a material different from lithium niobate; and
a lithium niobate film formed on the main surface of the substrate,
wherein the optical coupler according to claim 3 is formed on the lithium niobate film.

### Claim 17 (depends on 4)

An optical coupling member, comprising:
a substrate made of a material different from lithium niobate; and
a lithium niobate film formed on the main surface of the substrate,
wherein the optical coupler according to claim 4 is formed on the lithium niobate film.

### Claim 18 (depends on 5)

An optical coupling member, comprising:
a substrate made of a material different from lithium niobate; and
a lithium niobate film formed on the main surface of the substrate,
wherein the optical coupler according to claim 5 is formed on the lithium niobate film.

### Claim 19 (depends on 6)

An optical coupling member, comprising:
a substrate made of a material different from lithium niobate; and
a lithium niobate film formed on the main surface of the substrate,
wherein the optical coupler according to claim 6 is formed on the lithium niobate film.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

A visible light source module, comprising:
the optical coupling member according to claim 15; and
a plurality of visible laser light sources that emit visible light beams that are coupled by the optical coupling member.