Passively Placed Vertical Optical Connector
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an optical integrated circuit;
a waveguide in the optical integrated circuit configured to propagate light;
a diffractive element configured to couple light between the waveguide and an optical connector away from a plane of the waveguide; and
at least one alignment feature lithographically formed in the optical integrated circuit with respect to the diffractive element, the alignment feature configured to physically align the optical connector with the diffractive element without need for optical feedback.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical integrated circuit (IC) is provided that includes a waveguide to propagate light in the IC. A diffractive element, such as a grating, couples light between the waveguide and an external optical connector. At least one alignment feature is lithographically formed in the optical IC to facilitate precise positioning of the optical connector on the optical IC. Since the alignment feature is lithographically formed in a precise relation to the diffractive element, the optical connector can be accurately positioned and optically coupled to the optical IC. Complex optical-feedback-based alignment equipment and operations to achieve optical coupling of the optical connector with the waveguide in the optical IC are not necessary.
47 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
an optical integrated circuit; a waveguide in the optical integrated circuit configured to propagate light; a diffractive element configured to couple light between the waveguide and an optical connector away from a plane of the waveguide; and at least one alignment feature lithographically formed in the optical integrated circuit with respect to the diffractive element, the alignment feature configured to physically align the optical connector with the diffractive element without need for optical feedback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method comprising:
-
physically aligning an optical connector, without use of optical feedback, with at least one alignment feature lithographically formed on an optical integrated circuit with respect to a diffractive element on a waveguide of the optical integrated circuit; and securing the optical connector to the optical integrated circuit so that light can be coupled between the waveguide in the optical integrated circuit and the optical connector, through the diffractive element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A method comprising:
-
fabricating a waveguide in an optical circuit; forming a diffractive element in a portion of the waveguide to couple light between the waveguide and an optical connector; and lithographically forming at least one alignment feature in the optical integrated circuit with respect to the diffractive element, the at least one alignment feature configured to passively align the optical connector with the diffractive element without need for optical feedback. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification