Vertical optical coupler for planar photonic circuits

US9658396B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Intel Corporation · US

Inventors

• Haisheng Rong · Pleasanton, US
• Ofir Gan · Kiryat Gat, IL
• Pradeep Srinivasan · Fremont, US
• Assia Barkai · Kiryat Gat, IL
• I-Wei Andy Hsieh · Santa Clara, US
• Mahesh Krishnamurthi · San Jose, US
• Yun-Chung Na · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 29, 2011
• Grant date: May 23, 2017
• Expiry date: Sep 29, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/4201
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for providing a vertical optical coupler (VOC) for planar photonics circuits such as photonics circuits fabricated on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. In one embodiment, the VOC comprises a waveguide made from a material having refractive index in a range of 1.45 to 3.45, the waveguide comprising: a first end configured to reflect light nearly vertical by total internal reflection between the waveguide and another medium, a second end to receive the light for reflection, and a third end to output the reflected light. The VOC couples with a Si waveguide having a first region including: a first end to receive light; and an inverted tapered end in the direction of light propagation to output the received light, wherein the inverted tapered end of the Si waveguide is positioned inside the waveguide.