Monolithic integration of micro-optics circuits and RF circuits

• US 20030031399A1
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Kimerling, Lionel C., Lim, Desmond R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,031,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12004 Combinations of two or more optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/14 Mode converters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/42 Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures

Abstract

A chip for integrating functions performed by micro-optics and RF circuits including at least one optical function module that receives an optical signal and performs at least one of a plurality of optical functions. A RF function module that receives a RF signal and perform at least one of a plurality of RF functions. The at least one optical function module and the RF function module provides a monolithic integration of optics and RF circuits on the chip.

Claims

1. A hybrid circuit including micro-optics and RF circuits, said hybrid circuit comprising:

at least one optical function module that receives or transmits an optical signal and performs at least one of a plurality of optical functions; and

a RF function module that receives or transmits a RF signal and performs at least one of a plurality of RF functions,

wherein said at least one optical function module and said RF function module are integrated on a single microchip.

2. The hybrid circuit of claim 1 further comprising at least one external input optical fiber inputting said optical signal to said microchip.

3. The hybrid circuit of claim 2 further comprising at least one external output optical fiber outputting optical signals from said microchip.

4. The hybrid circuit of claim 2 further comprising a first waveguide mode converter for receiving said optical signal from said at least one external input optical fiber and converting the mode of said optical signal.

5. The hybrid circuit of claim 4, wherein said first waveguide mode converter converts said mode of said optical signal to less than 2 μ

m.

6. The hybrid circuit of claim 4 further comprising a first set of high index optical waveguides interconnecting said first waveguide mode converter and at least one of said at least one optical function module.

7. The hybrid circuit of claim 6 further comprising one or more optical-RF transducers for converting output optical signals from said at least one optical function modules into RF signals.

8. The hybrid circuit of claim 6 further comprising a second set of said high index optical waveguides interconnecting at least one of said optical-RF waveguides and at least one of said optical function modules.

9. The hybrid circuit of claim 1 further comprising at least one RF waveguide that provides directly to said RF function module at least one RF signal as input.

10. The hybrid circuit of claim 7 further comprising at least one RF waveguide interconnecting said one or more optical-RF transducers and said RF function module.

11. The hybrid circuit of claim 1 further comprising one or more RF-optical transducers for converting output RF signals of said RF function module into optical signals.

12. The hybrid circuit of claim 11 further comprising at least one RF waveguide for interconnecting the RF function module and said one or more RF-optical transducers.

13. The hybrid circuit of claim 1 further comprising a control module for providing control signals to said at least one optical function module and said RF function module.

14. The hybrid circuit of claim 13, wherein said control module requests data from said at least one optical module and RF function module for an external controller.

15. The hybrid circuit of claim 14, wherein said control module receives external control signals from said external controller, said control module processing said external control signals in a format useable by said one or more optical function modules or said RF function module.

16. The hybrid circuit of claim 15, wherein said control module receives data from said at least one optical function module or said RF function module to be provided to said external controller, said control module processing said data in a format useable by said external controller.

17. The hybrid circuit of claim 1, wherein said at least optical function module and said RF function module exchange information unidirectional or bi-directional fashion between said modules.

18. A chip for integrating functions performed by micro-optics and RF circuits, said chip comprising:

at least one optical function module that receives an optical signal and performs at least one of a plurality of optical functions; and

a RF function module that receives a RF signal and perform at least one of a plurality of RF functions,

wherein said at least one optical function module and said RF function module provides a monolithic integration of optics and RF circuits on said chip.

19. The chip of claim 18 further comprising at least one external input optical fiber inputting said optical signal to said chip.

20. The chip of claim 19 further comprising at least one external output optical fiber outputting optical signals from said chip.

21. The chip of claim 19 further comprising a first waveguide mode converter for receiving said optical signal from said at least one external input optical fiber and converting the mode of said optical signal.

22. The chip of claim 21, wherein said first waveguide mode converter converts said mode of said optical signal to less than 2 μ

m.

23. The chip of claim 21 further comprising a first set of high index optical waveguides interconnecting said first waveguide mode converter and at least one of said at least one optical function module.

24. The chip of claim 23 further comprising one or more optical-RF transducers for converting output optical signals from said at least one optical function modules into RF signals.

25. The chip of claim 23 further comprising a second set of said high index optical waveguides interconnecting at least one of said optical-RF waveguides and at least one of said optical function modules.

26. The chip of claim 18 further comprising at least one RF waveguide that provides directly to said RF function module at least one RF signal as input.

27. The chip of claim 24 further comprising at least one RF waveguide interconnecting said one or more optical-RF transducers and said RF function module.

28. The chip of claim 18 further comprising one or more RF-optical transducers for converting output RF signals of said RF function module into optical signals.

29. The chip of claim 28 further comprising at least one RF waveguide for interconnecting the RF function module and said one or more RF-optical transducers.

30. The chip of claim 18 further comprising a control module for providing control signals to said at least one optical function module and said RF function module.

31. The chip of claim 30, wherein said control module requests data from said at least one optical module and RF function module for an external controller.

32. The chip of claim 31, wherein said control module receives external control signals from said external controller, said control module processing said external control signals in a format useable by said one or more optical function modules or said RF function module.

33. The chip of claim 32, wherein said control module receives data from said at least one optical function module or said RF function module to be provided to said external controller, said control module processing said data in a format useable by said external controller.

34. The chip of claim 18, wherein said at least optical function module and said RF function module exchange information in a unidirectional or bi-directional fashion between said modules.