US 5,393,371 A · Integrated optics chips and laser ablation methods for attachment of optical fibers thereto for LiNbO.sub.3 substrates

Abstract

An integrated optics device has a substrate of lithium niobate (LiNbO.sub.3) with at least one optical waveguide. A slot formed in the edge of the substrate has end wall that exposes an end surface of the optical waveguide formed at an end surface angle with the optical axis of propagation to reduce reflected light in the optical waveguide. A length of optical fiber. The optical fiber has an end face formed at an end face angle with the direction of the propagation of light in the optical fiber. The slot is formed to receive the optical fiber. The optical fiber is positioned in the slot with the end face butt-coupled to the end surface of the optical waveguide to form an interface such that light may propagate between the optical waveguide and the optical fiber. A means for mounting the substrate. The optical waveguide is extended to an input junction with a center wave guide and with an sense waveguide. A first and second barrier trench or channel is formed adjacent to and substantially parallel with the center waveguide and offset from the waveguide by a predetermined distance. A portion of optical waveguide extending from the slot to the input junction is doped with a rare earth ion suitable for use as a light source when end pumped by light from the end face. The length of sense waveguides is selected to be greater than the coherence interval of the light source.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for making an integrated optics device having a crystal substrate formed of an optically active material having a crystal lattice, said crystal substrate having at least one slot formed therein, and at least one optical waveguide delineated within the crystal substrate to guide optical signals along a selected optical axis of propagation, the slot having a distal end wall, the distal end wall of the slot exposing an end surface of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide having an optical axis, the end surface of the optical waveguide being formed at an angle with the optical axis of propagation to reduce the amount of light reflected at the end surface of the optical waveguide;

said integrated optics device having at least one optical fiber positioned in said slot, said optical fiber having a core, said optical fiber having an end face with the core having an end face exposed on the surface of the optical fiber end face, the method steps comprising:
A. micro machining a slot of predetermined length, depth and width into the surface of the crystal substrate by scanning the surface path of the slot to be micro machined with a focused beam of photons, the wavelength of the photons and the beam density being selected to ablate molecules from the crystal lattice;
the slot terminating at a slot end wall, the slot end wall containing a waveguide end surface;
B. positioning the end portion of the optical fiber into the slot, the slot predetermined length and depth being characterized to coaxially align and abut the end face of the core with the waveguide end surface;
C. fixing the end portion of the optical fiber into the slot with end face of the core substantially abutting the waveguide end surface.

2 more elements

A method for making an integrated optics device having a crystal substrate formed of an optically active material having a crystal lattice, said crystal substrate having at least one ledge formed therein, and at least one optical waveguide delineated within the crystal substrate, the ledge having a distal end wall, the optical waveguide having an optical axis, the integrated optics device also having an optical fiber having a core, said optical fiber having an end face with the core having an end face exposed on the surface of the optical fiber end face, the method steps comprising:

A. micro machining a ledge of predetermined length, depth and width into the surface of the crystal substrate by scanning the surface path of the ledge to be micro machined with a focused beam of photons, the wavelength of the photons and the beam density being selected to ablate molecules from the crystal lattice;
the ledge terminating at a ledge end wall, the ledge end wall exposing a waveguide end surface, the ledge end wall being formed at an angle with the optical axis of the waveguide to form the waveguide end surface at an end surface angle with the optical axis of propagation;
B. positioning the end portion of the optical fiber on the ledge, the ledge length and depth being characterized to aid in aligning the end face of the core with the waveguide end surface;
C. fixing the end portion of the optical fiber onto the ledge with the end face of the core substantially abutting the waveguide end surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated optics chips and laser ablation methods for attachment of optical fibers thereto for LiNbO.sub.3 substrates

Life of this patent

Integrated optics chips and laser ablation methods for attachment of optical fibers thereto for LiNbO.sub.3 substrates

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22