Variable width waveguide for mode-matching and method for making
AssigneeShipley Company, L.L.C.
InventorsDan A. Steinberg, Neal Ricks, Mindaugas F. Dautartas, Hui Luo
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Abstract
A variable width waveguide useful for mode matching between dissimilar optical waveguides and optical fibers and a method for making the same is described. In one embodiment, a tapered waveguide is etched in a substrate, a cladding material is laid over the upper surface of the substrate and within the waveguide, and the waveguide is then filled with a core material. The core material may be deposited in a single step, or in successive deposition steps.
Claims38
An optical waveguide, comprising:
- a substrate comprising an upper surface and a trench therein, wherein said trench has a varying profile along at least a part of its length;
- a core material in said trench;
- and
- a cladding material in said trench between said substrate and said core material,
- wherein said core material and said cladding material have a varying profile along said at least said part of the length of said trench.
An integrated optic chip, comprising:
- a substrate comprising an upper surface;
- a waveguide comprising:
- a trench in said substrate, said trench comprising a varying profile along at least a part of its length;
- a core material in said trench;
- and
- a cladding material in said trench between said substrate and said core material;
- wherein said core material and said cladding material have a varying profile along said at least said part of the length of said trench;
- and
- integrated optical circuits optically coupled to said waveguide.
An optical waveguide, comprising:
- a substrate comprising an upper surface and a trench therein, wherein said trench has a varying profile along at least a part of its length;
- a core material in said trench;
- and
- a cladding material in said trench between said substrate and said core material,
- wherein said trench tapers from a large widtyh to a small width, and wherein said core material at said small end has a greater index of refraction at said upper surface than said core material at said large end.
An optical waveguide, comprising:
- a substrate comprising an upper surface and a trench therein, wherein said trench has a varying profile along at least a part of its length;
- a core material in said trench;
- and
- a cladding material in said trench between said substrate and said core material,
- wherein said core material and said cladding material fill said trench.
An integrated optic chip, comprising:
- a substrate comprising an upper surface;
- a waveguide comprising:
- a trench in said substrate, said trench comprising a varying profile along at least a part of its length;
- a core material in said trench;
- and
- a cladding material in said trench between said substrate and said core material;
- wherein said core material and said cladding material fill said trench;
- and integrated optical circuits optically coupled to said waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.