Optical converter and method of manufacturing the same

An optical converter, comprising:

• a signal receiving portion configured to receive an optical signal from an optical fiber which can be coupled to the optical converter,
• a signal output portion configured to output the optical signal received by the signal receiving portion, and
• a signal coupling portion being disposed between the signal receiving portion and the signal output portion and being configured to couple the optical signal received by the signal receiving portion into the signal output portion,
• a joining portion being disposed between the signal receiving portion and the signal coupling portion and being configured to couple the optical signal from the signal receiving portion into the signal coupling portion;
• wherein the signal output portion comprises a waveguide element having at least one tapered end section, and being partially or wholly surrounded by the signal coupling portion;
• wherein the at least one tapered end section is configured to couple the optical signal from the signal coupling portion into the waveguide element and the waveguide element is configured to output the optical signal;
• wherein the signal receiving portion, the signal coupling portion and the joining portion respectively form a part of a waveguide structure;
• wherein the waveguide structure is arranged such that the waveguide structure is suspended above a substrate or a wafer;
• wherein the waveguide structure is disposed between two layers, wherein the material of the waveguide structure and the material of the two layers are the same;
• the optical converter further comprising a plurality of support beams disposed between the waveguide structure and the two respective layers, wherein the plurality of support beams are configured to couple the waveguide structure to the two layers, and wherein the material of the support beams is the same as that of the waveguide structure and the two layers.