公开(公告)号：US11886007B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-30

申请号：US17985615

申请日：2022-11-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi-Kuei Wu ,  Yongming Tu ,  Alfredo Bismuto ,  Andrea Trita ,  Yangyang Liu

IPC: G02B6/122 ,  G02B6/12 ,  G02B27/10

CPC classification number: G02B6/1228 ,  G02B6/12004 ,  G02B27/10

Abstract: A waveguide structure and a method for splitting light is described. The method may include optically coupling a first waveguide and a second waveguide, where the optical coupling may be wavelength insensitive. The widths of the first and second waveguides may be non-adiabatically varying and the optical coupling may be asymmetric between the first and second waveguides. A gap between the first and second waveguides may also be varied non-adiabatically and the gap may depend on the widths of the first and second waveguides. The optical coupling between the first and second waveguides may also occur in the approximate wavelength range of 800 nanometers to 1700 nanometers.

公开(公告)号：US20230071329A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-09

申请号：US17985615

申请日：2022-11-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi-Kuei Wu ,  Yongming Tu ,  Alfredo Bismuto ,  Andrea Trita ,  Yangyang Liu

IPC: G02B6/122 ,  G02B6/12 ,  G02B27/10

Abstract: A waveguide structure and a method for splitting light is described. The method may include optically coupling a first waveguide and a second waveguide, where the optical coupling may be wavelength insensitive. The widths of the first and second waveguides may be non-adiabatically varying and the optical coupling may be asymmetric between the first and second waveguides. A gap between the first and second waveguides may also be varied non-adiabatically and the gap may depend on the widths of the first and second waveguides. The optical coupling between the first and second waveguides may also occur in the approximate wavelength range of 800 nanometers to 1700 nanometers.

公开(公告)号：US11906778B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US17479943

申请日：2021-09-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Mark Alan Arbore ,  Yi-Kuei Wu

IPC: G02B6/12 ,  G02B27/10 ,  G02B6/28

CPC classification number: G02B6/12007 ,  G02B27/1006 ,  G02B6/2808

Abstract: Configurations for an optical splitter are disclosed. The optical splitter may include an input waveguide, a free propagation region, and an array of output waveguides. The input waveguide may be sufficiently narrow that the light in the free propagation region may diffract and provide the same optical intensity at far field angles across a wide wavelength range. The input waveguide may have a high V number in a vertical dimension and a low V number in a horizontal dimension. Because all of the wavelengths of light diffract at the same angle in the free propagation region, once the light reaches the output waveguides, the light may have similar optical power at each of the output waveguides. Additionally, the output waveguides may vary in width and spacing to mitigate the non-uniform optical power distribution of the phase front of light.

公开(公告)号：US20220099889A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-31

申请号：US17479943

申请日：2021-09-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Mark Alan Arbore ,  Yi-Kuei Wu

IPC: G02B6/12 ,  G02B27/10

Abstract: Configurations for an optical splitter are disclosed. The optical splitter may include an input waveguide, a free propagation region, and an array of output waveguides. The input waveguide may be sufficiently narrow that the light in the free propagation region may diffract and provide the same optical intensity at far field angles across a wide wavelength range. The input waveguide may have a high V number in a vertical dimension and a low V number in a horizontal dimension. Because all of the wavelengths of light diffract at the same angle in the free propagation region, once the light reaches the output waveguides, the light may have similar optical power at each of the output waveguides. Additionally, the output waveguides may vary in width and spacing to mitigate the non-uniform optical power distribution of the phase front of light.

公开(公告)号：US20220091333A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-24

申请号：US17408122

申请日：2021-08-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi-Kuei Wu

IPC: G02B6/125 ,  G02B6/122 ,  G02B6/14

Abstract: Configurations for a one by four light splitting device are disclosed. The light splitting device may include a primary waveguide, a first coupling waveguide, and a second coupling waveguide. The primary waveguide may couple light from the primary waveguide into both the first and second coupling waveguides. Due to the manipulation of the coupling modes, a fundamental mode of light may be input and four fundamental modes of light may be output. In some examples, the primary waveguide may input a fundamental mode of light that may be converted into a first hybrid mode, which may be a four lobe mode. The first and second coupling waveguides may be tapered and separated by a gap such that the first hybrid mode may be converted into two second hybrid modes, which may then be converted back into four fundamental modes of output light.

公开(公告)号：US11971574B2

公开(公告)日：2024-04-30

申请号：US17725418

申请日：2022-04-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi-Kuei Wu ,  Lucia Gan

IPC: G02B6/12 ,  G02B6/122 ,  G02B6/293

CPC classification number: G02B6/12007 ,  G02B6/1228 ,  G02B6/29344 ,  G02B6/2938

Abstract: Configurations for an interferometric device used for multiplexing and de-multiplexing light are disclosed. The interferometric device may include a first input waveguide, a second input waveguide, an interferometric waveguide, and an output waveguide. A fundamental mode of light may be launched into the first and second input waveguides, and the interferometric waveguide may receive the fundamental mode and generate a higher order mode of light, where the two modes of light may be superimposed while propagating through the interferometric waveguide. The two modes of light may be received at an output waveguide that collapses the two modes into a single mode. The light propagating through the interferometric device may be used for increasing optical power even though the wavelengths of light may be different from one another. Additionally, the interferometric device may reduce coherent noise.

公开(公告)号：US20240094592A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-21

申请号：US18526269

申请日：2023-12-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi-Kuei Wu ,  Jason Pelc ,  Mark Alan Arbore ,  Thomas C. Greening ,  Matthew A. Terrel ,  Yongming Tu ,  Mohamed Mahmoud

IPC: G02F1/21

CPC classification number: G02F1/21 ,  G02F1/212

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated photonics device including an on-chip wavelength stability monitor. The wavelength stability monitor may include one or more interferometric components, such as Mach-Zehnder interferometers and can be configured to select among the output signals from the interferometric components for monitoring the wavelength emitted by a corresponding photonic component, such as a light source. The selection may be based on a slope of the output signal and in some examples may correspond to a working zone at or around a wavelength or wavelength range. In some examples, the interferometric components can be configured with different phase differences such that the corresponding working zones have different wavelengths. In some examples, the slopes of the output signals may be weighted based on the steepness of the slope and all of the output signals may include information for wavelength locking the measured wavelength to the target wavelength.

公开(公告)号：US20230110382A1

公开(公告)日：2023-04-13

申请号：US17725418

申请日：2022-04-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi-Kuei Wu ,  Lucia Gan

IPC: G02B6/12 ,  G02B6/122

Abstract: Configurations for an interferometric device used for multiplexing and de-multiplexing light are disclosed. The interferometric device may include a first input waveguide, a second input waveguide, an interferometric waveguide, and an output waveguide. A fundamental mode of light may be launched into the first and second input waveguides, and the interferometric waveguide may receive the fundamental mode and generate a higher order mode of light, where the two modes of light may be superimposed while propagating through the interferometric waveguide. The two modes of light may be received at an output waveguide that collapses the two modes into a single mode. The light propagating through the interferometric device may be used for increasing optical power even though the wavelengths of light may be different from one another. Additionally, the interferometric device may reduce coherent noise.

公开(公告)号：US11835836B1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-05

申请号：US17015974

申请日：2020-09-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Yi-Kuei Wu ,  Jason Pelc ,  Mark Alan Arbore ,  Thomas C. Greening ,  Matthew A. Terrel ,  Yongming Tu ,  Mohamed Mahmoud

IPC: G02F1/21

CPC classification number: G02F1/21 ,  G02F1/212

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated photonics device including an on-chip wavelength stability monitor. The wavelength stability monitor may include one or more interferometric components, such as Mach-Zehnder interferometers and can be configured to select among the output signals from the interferometric components for monitoring the wavelength emitted by a corresponding photonic component, such as a light source. The selection may be based on a slope of the output signal and in some examples may correspond to a working zone at or around a wavelength or wavelength range. In some examples, the interferometric components can be configured with different phase differences such that the corresponding working zones have different wavelengths. In some examples, the slopes of the output signals may be weighted based on the steepness of the slope and all of the output signals may include information for wavelength locking the measured wavelength to the target wavelength.

公开(公告)号：US20230100317A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-30

申请号：US17945862

申请日：2022-09-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Jason S. Pelc ,  Mark Alan Arbore ,  Yi-Kuei Wu

IPC: H04B10/572 ,  H04B10/079 ,  G02B6/42

Abstract: Configurations for a modal interference device used for wavelength locking are disclosed. The modal interference device may be an interference device that includes an input waveguide, an interference waveguide, and an output waveguide. A fundamental mode of light may be launched into the input waveguide and the interference waveguide may receive the fundamental mode and generate a higher order mode of light, where the two modes of light may be superimposed while propagating through the interference waveguide. The two modes of light may be received at an output waveguide that collapses the two modes into a single mode and generates an output signal corresponding to the interference between the two modes of light. The output signal may be used to wavelength lock a measured wavelength to a target wavelength. The multiple output waveguides may produce output signals that have dead zones that do not align with one another for any wavelength in the wavelength range of interest.