High density fibre coupling

• US 20040022496A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanyang Technology University
• Original Assignee: Nanyang Technology University
• Inventors: Lam, Yee Loy
• Granted Patent: US 6,862,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/49
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12107 Grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/423 using guiding surfaces for the alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections

Abstract

In present invention, a photonic integrated circuit includes a number of optical coupling ports that extend from the surface of the device through at least a dedicated fibre guiding layer or a planar structure for coupling the end of an optical fibre mounted within the optical coupling port to an underlying planar optical wave guide or other light emitting device so that, in use, light is coupled between the underlying optical wave guide or light emitting device and the optical fibre. The other and of the optical fibre may be coupled to an optical fibre holder or to another optimal coupling port. An important advantage of the present invention is the flexibility it gives to a designer since it eliminates the need to for waveguides to be routed to the edge of the chip. It also solves the problem of aligning a large number of fibres onto a chip since the optical coupling ports allow fibres to be passively aligned.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising an optical fibre coupled to a planar structure, the planar structure having:

a substrate;

an optical section formed on the substrate;

a fibre guiding layer formed on the optical section; and

,

an optical coupling port that extends from an upper surface of the device through at least the fibre guiding layer, for coupling an end of the optical fibre mounted within the coupling port to the underlying optical section so that, in use, light guided or emitted by the optical section is coupled between ale optical section and the optical fibre.

2. An optical device according to claim 1, further comprising a light turning section that changes the direction of propagation of light at a junction between the optical section and the optical coupling port.

3. An optical device according to claim 2, in which the light turning section comprises an optical mirror.

4. An optical device according to claim 2, in which the light turning section comprises a grating.

5. An optical device according to any preceding claim, comprising an optical fibre holder to which an opposite end of the fibre remote from the optical coupling port is mounted.

7. An optical device according to any of claims 1 to 4, comprising another optical coupling port within which an opposite end of the optical fibre is mounted.

8. An optical device according to any preceding claim, in which the fibre guiding layer functions at a passivating layer.

9. An optical device according to any preceding claim, in which the fibre guiding layer comprises a material selected from a group consisting of dielectrics, including silicon dioxide, silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride;

polymers, including polyimide and benzocylcobutene; and

,

sol-gel based materials, including organic and inorganic compositions.

10. An optical device according to any preceding claim, in which the thickness of the fibre guiding layer is in the range 20 μ

m to 100 μ

m.

11. An optical device according to any preceding claim, in which the optical coupling port is filled with an index matching material.

12. An optical device according to claim 11, in which the index matching material is an optical glue which fixes the optical fibre in place.

13. An optical device according to any preceding claim, in which the optical section is a planar wave guide.

14. An optical device according to any of claims 1 to 13, in which the optical section is a light emitting device.

15. A photonic integrated circuit comprising the optical device of any preceding claim.

16. A method of manufacturing an optical device according to any preceding claim, comprising the steps of:

depositing a fibre guiding layer on the surface of a planar structure;

selectively etching a portion of the fibre guiding layer to form an optical coupling port that extends from a surface of the device to an underlying optical section; and

mounting one end of an optimal fibre within the optical coupling port.

6. An optical device according to claim 6, in which the optical fibre holder is positioned adjacent an edge of the structure.