Integrated vertical wavelength (de)multiplexer
US7532784B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2007 |
| Grant date | May 12, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F77/1248
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention describes an integrated-photonics arrangement, implementable in a multi-layer III-V semiconductor structure, which has a semiconductor substrate; an epitaxial semiconductor structure grown on this substrate in one growth step; a common waveguide; and a plurality of wavelength-designated waveguides; all the waveguides being formed in this epitaxial structure using conventional semiconductor processing techniques. Each waveguide being defined by the bandgap wavelength of its core region and all the waveguides being arranged vertically in order of ascending bandgap wavelength; with the common waveguide placed at the bottom of the structure and the wavelength-designated waveguide having the longest bandgap wavelength placed at the top of the structure. In use, the bandgap wavelength of the common waveguide being well below any operating wavelength, therefore providing conditions for low-loss propagation of each operating wavelength to its designated waveguide through the common waveguide. The invention discloses a method of wavelength demultiplexing (multiplexing) for optical signals in a plurality of wavelengths, which are co- or bi-directionally propagating within the i…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.