Optical Arrangement and Method for Its Manufacture

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes an optical assembly and its manufacturing method, where a strip waveguide and a fiber waveguide are arranged on a substrate. The ends of these waveguides taper in opposite directions, enabling efficient coupling of electromagnetic radiation between them. A key innovation is the addition of at least one electrically conductive layer (such as a metal layer) near the coupling region, which acts as a mirror to enhance the coupling efficiency and minimize optical losses by reflecting stray light that would otherwise penetrate into the substrate.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Integrated photonic chips for optical communications
• Optical signal transfer between optical fibers and on-chip waveguides
• Photonic interconnects in data centers and high-performance computing
• Integrated sensors utilizing optical coupling between fiber and chip
• Hybrid optoelectronic circuits requiring efficient fiber-to-chip coupling

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Greatly improved coupling efficiency between fiber and on-chip waveguides
• Minimized optical loss due to stray light absorption in the substrate
• Broad choice of substrate materials, including those with higher refractive indices
• Enables integration of fiber-based and on-chip photonic components
• Potential for more compact and robust optical interconnects
• Facilitates mass manufacturing via established thin film and etching techniques

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to, among others, an optical assembly comprising a substrate (10), a strip waveguide (20) which is positioned on the substrate (10) and which tapers in the direction of a waveguide end (20e) in a waveguide end region (23), and a fiber waveguide (30) on or next to the strip waveguide (20), said fiber waveguide tapering in the direction of a fiber end (30e) in a fiber end region (31), wherein the tapering direction (V1) of the fiber waveguide (30) is opposite the tapering direction (V2) of the strip waveguide (20). Electromagnetic radiation being guided in the fiber waveguide (30) can be coupled from the fiber end region (31) into the waveguide end region (23), and electromagnetic radiation being guided in the strip waveguide (20) can be coupled from the waveguide end region (23) into the fiber end region (31). According to the invention, at least one electrically conductive layer element (40) which influences the coupling behavior between the waveguide end region (23) and the fiber end region (31) is positioned on the substrate (10) next to the waveguide end region (23).