Polarization splitting grating couplers
AssigneeLuxtera, Inc.
InventorsLawrence C. Gunn, III, Thierry J. Pinguet, Maxime J. Rattier, Jeremy Witzens
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Abstract
A polarization splitting grating coupler (PSGC) connects an optical signal from an optical element, such as a fiber, to an optoelectronic integrated circuit. The PSGC separates a received optical signal into two orthogonal polarizations and directs the two polarizations to separate waveguides on an integrated circuit. Each of the two separated polarizations can then be processed, as needed for a particular application, by the integrated circuit. A PSGC can also operate in the reverse direction, and couple two optical signals from an integrated circuit to two respective orthogonal polarizations of one optical output signal sent off chip to an optical fiber.
Claims37
An optical apparatus disposed on a substrate, comprising:
- a waveguide comprising:
- a grating coupler and
- first and second flared waveguides with respective first and second ports,
- where the grating coupler has a non-planar port that is not in the plane of the substrate, and
- the first and second ports are in the plane of the substrate,
- where each of the first and second flared waveguides has:
- a relatively wide end,
- a relatively narrow end that comprises the port, and
- at least one substantially hyperbolically curved sidewall,
- where the relatively wide end of each of the first and second flared waveguides is coupled to the grating coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.