Optical coupler comprising a molded optical interposer together with a PIC and 2 polarization selective elements enabling isolation and/or polarization management

US12339498B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen · DE

Inventors

• Jeremy Witzens · Aachen, DE
• Florian Merget · Aachen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 26, 2020
• Grant date: Jun 24, 2025
• Expiry date: Oct 9, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/4246
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention describes an apparatus that implements efficient coupling between a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and a second optical element such as a fiber or laser, while at the same time allowing for efficient polarization management and/or optical isolation. It enables the packaging of PICs with large single mode fiber counts and in- and out-coupling of light with arbitrary polarization. The apparatus comprises a glass interposer that contains at least one polarization selective element together with a pair of lenses transforming a beam profile between the 2nd optical element and a polarization selective coupler on the PIC. The invention also comprises a method for fabricating the apparatus based on a subassembly of building blocks that are manufactured using wafer-scale high-precision glass-molding and surface treatment(s) such as thin-film coating.