Abstract:
A photonic device (10) including: at least first and second optical waveguides (30, 50); and, a buffer (40) at least partially interposed between the first and second optical waveguides (30, 50) where they at least partially overlie one-another so as to at least partially mitigate interference between optical signals traversing the first and second optical waveguides (30, 50).
Abstract:
In one aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for forming optical devices on large area substrates. The large area substrates are preferably made of quartz, silica or fused silica. The large area substrates enable larger optical devices to be formed on a single die. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for forming integrated optical devices on large area substrates, such as quartz, silica or fused silica substrates. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for forming optical devices using damascene techniques on large area substrates or silicon substrates. In another aspect, methods for forming optical devices by bonding an upper cladding layer on a lower cladding and a core is provided.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for making an integrated photonic device having buffer, core and cladding layers deposited on the front side of a wafer. A thick tensile stress layer is deposited on the back side of the wafer just prior to performing a high temperature thermal treatment above 600°C on the cladding layer to prevent the cracking of the layers as a result of the thermal treatment.
Abstract:
An optical waveguide (22) extends vertically within the interior of an IC-like structure (20) to route optical signals between horizontal waveguides (25a-25d) in different layers of horizontal optical interconnects. A light reflecting structure (32, 34) is positioned at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical waveguides (22, 25a-25d) to reflect the light. Multiple horizontal waveguides (25a, 25b; 25c, 25d) may join the vertical waveguide (22) at a common intersection, to form a beam splitter or a beam combiner. Optical signals from one horizontal waveguide are diverted within the IC-like structure (20) into another horizontal or vertical waveguide. The waveguide is formed with a light reflective structure at an intersection of the horizontal and vertical waveguides (22, 25a-25d), and the waveguide is completed using damascene fabrication techniques.
Abstract:
It is an object of the present invention to reduce the size of a circuit and the adverse effects of fabrication errors, while increasing yield. Signal light incident on a circuit through input waveguides (303) propagates from the exterior to interior of the circuit while rotating counterclockwise. The signal light passes through a point of inflection (305) in the center of the circuit, subsequently propagate clockwise from the interior to exterior of the circuit, and then exit output waveguides (304). Two arms constituting a delay circuit (302a-302d) and optical couplers (301a-301e) can be integrated together at such an interval that they are not coupled together. Therefore, the size of the circuit can be reduced compared to the prior art.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating an integrated optical device and such a device, comprising a structure including at least one waveguiding element are presented. A basic structure is formed containing a substrate material carrying a buffer material layer coated with a core material layer of a higher refraction index as compared to that of the buffer layer. The at least one waveguiding element is defined in a guiding layer on top of the basic structure. The guiding layer is made of a material with a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the buffer layer and the core layer, and is chosen so as to minimize a height of the at least one waveguiding element and to provide effective guiding of light in the core layer. A cladding layer is formed on top of the so-obtained structure, wherein a height difference between the cladding layer region above the waveguiding element and the cladding layer region outside the waveguiding element is substantially small resulting in a desired flatness of the top cladding layer to allow direct formation of a further waveguide structure thereon and prevent significant perturbations in light propagation within the further waveguide structure.
Abstract:
An optical device capable of optically coupling an optical element to be mounted to an optical waveguide circuit with low transmission losses is provided. On a base (20) provided with a substrate (1), a positioning pattern (15) made of a Pt film, a high melting point material having a melting point higher than a temperature of consolidating glass, is formed. Then, glass layers (24,26) are formed by depositing glass particles by flame hydrolysis deposition and consolidating the deposited glass particles. The glass layers cover the top of the positioning pattern (15) and the base (20). The glass layers on the top and the periphery of the positioning pattern (15) are removed to expose the positioning pattern (15) and the base (20) therearound. The exposed area is to be a optical element mounting face (4). The positioning pattern (15) allows a light receiving device (8) to be positioned and fixed on the optical element mounting face (4) accurately. The light receiving device (8) is allowed to be coupled to a circuit of an optical waveguide forming area (2) formed in the remaining glass layers that have not been removed.
Abstract:
A process of forming a material such as a waveguide with at least two regions of differing refractive indices comprising the steps of: (a) providing an amount of a gelable composition comprising at least one gelable component in a desired form; (b) exposing the gelable composition to conditions which partially gel the gelable composition so that an amount of ungelled material remains; (c) exposing at least one discrete region of the partially gelled product of step (b) to conditions which induce more complete gelation of the partially gelled gelable composition so that more of the ungelled material is incorporated into the gel structure in the exposed regions than in non-exposed regions; and (d) removing material not incorporated in the gel structure at least from the non-exposed region. A second component may additionally be provided, the second component being selected to impart a higher or lower refractive index to that part of the material in which it is incorporated. A step in refractive index between at least two regions of the material may be achieved.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an optical waveguide circuit such as an arrayed waveguide grating, etc., which is capable of suppressing influences of polarization dependency loss without providing a half-wave plate. A lower cladding is formed on a silicon substrate (11). A core having the following waveguide construction is formed thereon. That is, an input side slab waveguide (13) is connected to the emission side of a plurality of incidence waveguides (12), a plurality of arrayed waveguides (14) having different lengths from each other are juxtaposed at and connected to the emission side thereof, an output side slab waveguide (15) is further connected to the emission side thereof, and a plurality of emission waveguides (16) are connected to the emission side thereof, thereby causing the abovementioned waveguide construction. The upper cladding covers up the core. A plurality of multiplexed and inputted light beams, having different wavelengths from each other, which are made incident into the core are divided and outputted wavelength by wavelength. The claddings and core are made of silica-based glass, wherein the value B of birefringence occurring in said optical waveguide portion is |B|≤5.34 x 10 -5 , and αs - 2.0 x 10 -7 ≤ αg ≤ αs + 2.0 x 10 -7 is established where it is assumed that the thermal expansion coefficient of the upper cladding is αg, and the thermal expansion coefficient of a silicon substrate is αs.