US 7,010,190 B2 · Silicon optic based wavelength division multiplexing device

Abstract

The present invention discloses an optic based wavelength division multiplexer device made by a micro lithography and etching process, utilizing the special crystal lattice structure of a silicon wafer. The device comprises a silicon substrate with grooves, an input fiber optic of incoming port with its front lens, a fiber optic of pass port with its front lens, a fiber optic of reflect port with its front lens, and a thin-film filter. The fiber optics, lenses, and the thin-film filter are inserted into grooves to complete the fiber-to-fiber alignment and coupling. The present invention provides both functions of wavelength multiplexing and wavelength demultiplexing. The present invention also has the characteristics of automatic alignment and passive alignment.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A silicon optic based wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) device, comprising:

a silicon substrate, having a plurality of grooves;
a plurality of optical fibers disposed and coupled inside the grooves of the silicon substrate;
a plurality of lenses disposed and coupled inside the grooves of the silicon substrate for coupling the optical fibers, and for focusing and diverging lights transmitted by the optical fibers;
and
at least a filter disposed and coupled inside the grooves of the silicon substrate for passing or reflecting lights with different wavelengths;
wherein the filter is an external filter inserted in the grooves of the silicon substrate.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/728,534Filed 5 Dec 2003

Priority

TW 92214251 U6 Aug 2003

Published

US 2005/0031258 A110 Feb 2005

Granted

7 Mar 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G02B 6/29362
Interference filters, e.g. multilayer coatings, thin film filters, dichroic splitters or mirrors based on multilayers, WDM filters: serial cascade…
G02B 6/2938
Characterised by the function or use of the complete device: for multiplexing or demultiplexing, i.e. combining or separating wavelengths, e.g.…
G02B 6/32
Optical coupling means: having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
G02B 6/322
Having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends: and having centering means being part of the lens for the self-positioning of…

Silicon optic based wavelength division multiplexing device

Life of this patent

Silicon optic based wavelength division multiplexing device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41