Hybrid sphere-waveguide resonators
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsXudong Fan, John E. Potts, Terry L. Smith, Robert W. Wilson
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Abstract
Microresonators, such as a microsphere resonators and planar microresonators, are optically coupled to waveguides for input and output of light. It is important that the relative positions of the microresonator and the waveguide are maintained stable, while still maintaining high cavity Q and ease of launching and extracting the optical beams. Structures are provided on a substrate that are useful for maintaining the position of the microresonator relative to the waveguide. The structures provide for vertical or horizontal coupling between the waveguide and the microresonator.
Claims38
A microresonator device, comprising:
- a first substrate having at least one self-aligning feature on a surface;
- a first waveguide disposed relative to the first substrate;
- and
- a microresonator positioned on the substrate by the self-aligning feature so as to optically couple to the first waveguide in a coupling region, the first waveguide having a larger cladding index on the coupling region side than on an opposite side.
A method of making a microresonator optical device, comprising:
- providing at least one self-aligning feature on a first substrate;
- providing a first waveguide;
- and
- positioning a microresonator, using the at least one self-aligning feature, so that the microresonator is in an optically coupling relationship with the first waveguide in a coupling region, the first waveguide having a larger cladding index on the coupling region side than on an opposite side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.