Patent · US Expired

Optical device with an optical coupler for effecting light branching/combining and a method for producing the same

US5249244A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 12, 1992
Grant dateSep 28, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/136
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Disclosed are an optical device having an optical coupler and a method for fabricating the optical device. The optical device includes a semiconductor crystal and a waveguide formed on the semiconductor crystal. The waveguide includes an etched portion having a predetermined pattern and a predetermined depth. A re-grown portion is formed in the etched portion of the waveguide. A coupler portion containing a recess is formed in the re-grown portion. The coupler portion effects at least one of a branching and a combining of the light propagated through the waveguide. In a method for fabricating the device, the etched portion is formed typically by ion beam etching, and the recess is formed typically by focused ion beam etching. In the method, the etching and the re-growth are performed using the same mask material.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.