Method and apparatus for optical coupling of optical signals for a photonic integrated circuit

US10996401B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES, LTD. · IL

Inventors

• Elad Mentovich · Tel Aviv-Yafo, IL
• Itshak Kalifa · Ramat Gan, IL
• Sylvie Rockman · Jerusalem, IL
• Anna Sandomirsky · Nesher, IL
• Giannis Poulopoulos · Korydallos, GR
• Dimitrios Kalavrouziotis · Municipality of Chalandri, GR
• Paraskevas Bakopoulos · Municipality of Aigaleo, GR
• Hercules Avramopoulos · Red Bank, US
• Xin Yin · Jianghu, CN
• Geert Van Steenberge · Sint-Amandsberg, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2016
• Grant date: May 4, 2021
• Expiry date: Sep 8, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/183
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical coupler and method of assembly are described that provide efficient coupling from the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) waveguide layer to external components, such as optical fibers, VCSELs, photodetectors, and gain blocks, among others. The optical coupler includes a PIC that can be supported by a printed circuit board, an optoelectronic transducer supported by the PIC that can convert between optical signals and corresponding electrical signals, and a coupled waveguide assembly. The coupled waveguide assembly includes a low-index waveguide, a high-index waveguide, and a reflective surface that changes a pathway of the optical signals to direct the optical signals from the optoelectronic transducer into the low-index waveguide or from the low-index waveguide into the optoelectronic transducer.