Systems and methods for coupling a fiber to a polarization sensitive photonic integrated circuit
US9854336B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2015 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0049
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The integrated network element offers an efficient fiber-chip coupling of multiple outputs of a polarization sensitive photonic integrated circuit (PIC) using a programmable mirror co-packaged with the PIC. Efficient fiber-chip coupling requires precise and active alignment of all free-space components. These constraints can be reduced by using a programmable mirror in the form of a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device. The LCoS can be programmed with patterns that offer highly accurate beam-steering and focusing functionality. Imaging optics may be used at the PIC facet to provide some degree of collimation in the free-space optical path to efficiently illuminate the LCoS. By reprogramming the LCoS switching between two outputs/inputs can be obtained at high speed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.