Semiconductor optical component utilizing leaky structures to match the mode of rib waveguides to that of the fiber

US6681069B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM VZW · BE
• UNIVERSIDAD PÚBLICA DE NAVARRA · ES
• UNIVERSITEIT GENT · BE

Inventors

• Marko Galarza · Sabiñánigo, ES
• Kurt De Mesel · Lo-Reninge, BE
• Candido Aramburu · Pamplona, ES
• Roel Baets · Deinze, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 29, 2002
• Grant date: Jan 20, 2004
• Expiry date: Mar 29, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S5/4031
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A waveguide component has a slab waveguide, a rib waveguide, and a mode transition section where the rib waveguide and the slab waveguide are adjacent, and where the rib waveguide is tapered, to provide optical coupling, and lateral confinement rib waveguides are provided along the slab waveguide in the mode transition section to confine light from spreading laterally. The lateral confinement ribs can be formed in the same step with the same mask as used for the taper, to ensure alignment with the taper. They can be arranged either side of the taper. The lateral confinement ribs are significant for enabling a mode transition section which couples with low loss. In particular, it reduces the need for the taper to be so fine, or the taper to be made in both vertical and horizontal axes, both of which cause fabrication difficulties.