Resonant coupling of optical signals for out-of-plane transmission

An optically resonant system for redirecting an optical signal, said optically resonant system comprising:

• a substrate;
• a planar waveguide located at least partially in said substrate, said waveguide operative to transport an input optical signal that exhibits a directional component;
• and
• a resonant optical cavity located at least partially in the substrate said cavity configured to optically couple to said waveguide to receive an evanescent optical signal of the input optical signal, said resonant optical cavity resonating in response to the evanescent optical signal to excite and emit a resonant signal, the resonant signal exhibiting a directional component different than the directional component of the input optical signal, and wherein said resonant optical cavity is bounded by
• a first structure residing substantially in a plane and reflecting optical radiation in a first direction substantially orthogonal to said plane;
• and
• a second structure optically communicating with said first structure and reflecting optical radiation in a direction substantially parallel to said plane.

A method for redirecting optical radiation, said method comprising:

• receiving an evanescent field signal of a first optical signal having a directional component and including at least one wavelength;
• exciting a resonant signal with the evanescent field signal at said at least one wavelength;
• and
• emitting said resonant signal having a directional component that is substantially orthogonal to the directional component of the first optical signal.

A system for redirecting an optical signal, the system comprising:

• a first structure comprising a first cylinder having an axis, the first cylinder operative to capture at least a portion of an evanescent optical signal propagating radially therethrough and to provide radial confinement of the captured optical signal;
• and
• a second structure comprising a first plate and a second plate spaced apart along the axis, the first and second plates operative to provide axial confinement of the captured optical signal;
• wherein the first and second structures constitute an optical resonator operative to resonate and direct the captured optical signal out of the system in the axial direction;
• wherein the first and second structures are disposed at least partially inside a substrate;
• wherein the first and second structures comprise a material having a first dielectric constant and the substrate comprises a material having a second dielectric constant;
• and
• wherein the first dielectric constant is greater than the second dielectric constant.