Stress-tuned planar lightwave circuit and method therefor
US9764352B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/225
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A planar lightwave circuit that can be optically coupled with an external device with low optical loss, while also providing low-power functional control over an optical signal propagating through the PLC is disclosed. The PLC includes a high-contrast waveguide region in a stress-inducing (SI) phase shifter is formed such that it can control the phase of the optical signal. The high-contrast-waveguide region is optically coupled to a low-contrast-waveguide region via a spotsize converter, thereby enabling optical coupling to off-chip devices with low optical loss. Formation of the SI phase shifter in a high-contrast-waveguide region enables improved responsivity and phase control, reduced voltage, and smaller required chip real estate. As a result, the present invention enables lower-cost and higher-performance PLC systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.