Optical waveguide circuit, optical branched waveguide circuit, and optical modulator

• US 6,061,487 A
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NOK Corporation
• Original Assignee: NOK Corporation
• Inventors: Kubota, Yasuhiro, Takatsu, Ichiro, Toyama, Jiro, Ushijima, Shinji, Yamada, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US09/069,970
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 385/24, 385/31, 385/39, 385/35, 385/45, 385/48, 385/147, 359/118, 359/127, 359/618
• US Class Current: 385/47
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12069 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/125 Bends, branchings or intersections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2817 using reflective elements to split or combine optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/19 based on variable-reflection or variable-refraction elements not provided for in groups G02F1/015 - G02F1/169
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3137 with intersecting or branching waveguides, e.g. X-switches and Y-junctions

Abstract

An optical branched waveguide and an optical waveguide circuit which are easily fabricated, have a small size, and are low in cost. A linear first optical waveguide and second optical waveguide are crossed at a predetermined angle with respect to the substrate, a groove forming a predetermined angle relative to the optical waveguides and having a depth set to not less than the depth of the first and second optical waveguides is formed so as to include the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, and an optical element having a partial reflection and partial transmission function passing part of an incident light guided through the first optical waveguide therethrough and guiding this to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflecting part of the incident light and guiding the same to the second optical waveguide is inserted into the groove so as to include the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide.

Claims

1. An optical branched waveguide comprising:

a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle; and

an optical element which is provided at an intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, allows part of an incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides it to the first optical waveguide, and reflects part of the incident light and guides it to the second optical waveguide.

2. An optical branched waveguide comprising:

a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is inserted into at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides it to the first optical waveguide, and reflects part of the incident light and guides it to the second optical waveguide.

3. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 2, wherein the groove and optical waveguides are formed so that an optical reflection angle of the light incident from the first optical waveguide caused by the optical element and an angle formed by the second optical waveguide with the first optical waveguide coincide.

4. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 3, wherein the optical element is obtained by forming a thin optical film on an organic film transparent with respect to the guided light.

5. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 4, where the thin optical film is constituted by a multiple-layer interference film or metal film.

6. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 2, wherein the optical element comprises a thin optical film formed on a thin sheet comprised of an inorganic material transparent to the guided light.

7. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 6, wherein the thin optical film is constituted by a multiple-layer interference film or metal film.

8. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 2, wherein the substrate is constituted by a member having an electro-optic effect.

9. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 2, wherein the substrate is constituted by a member having a piezoelectric effect.

10. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 6, wherein a light branching ratio for transmitting and reflecting the light of the optical element is 1:

1.

11. An optical waveguide comprising at least one set of an optical branched waveguide, including a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is inserted into at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides it to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflects part of the incident light and guides it to the second optical waveguide and

having connected to at least one optical waveguide of an input portion or an output portion thereof the optical waveguide of another optical branched waveguide.

12. An optical waveguide circuit as set forth in claim 11, comprising electrodes for applying an electric field for creating the electro-optic effect in parts of the optical waveguides.

13. An optical waveguide circuit comprising at least one set of an optical branched waveguide, including a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is inserted into at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides it to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflects part of the incident light and guides it to the second optical waveguide and

having electrodes for applying an electric field for creating the piezoelectric effect in parts of the optical waveguide.

14. An optical branched waveguide comprising:

a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is provided at one side at least at the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides this to the first optical waveguide, and reflects part of the incident light and guides this to the second optical waveguide.

15. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 14, wherein the groove and optical waveguides are formed so that an optical reflection angle of the light incident from the first optical waveguide caused by the optical element and an angle formed by the second optical waveguide with the first optical waveguide coincide.

16. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 14, wherein the optical element is obtained by forming a thin optical film on an organic film transparent with respect to the guided light.

17. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 16, where the thin optical film is formed by a multiple-layer interference film or metal film.

18. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 14, wherein the optical element comprises a thin optical film formed on a thin sheet comprised of an inorganic material transparent to the guided light.

19. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 18, wherein the thin optical film is formed by a multiple-layer interference film or metal film.

20. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 14, wherein the substrate is formed by a member having an electro-optic effect.

21. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 14, wherein the substrate is formed by a member having a piezoelectric effect.

22. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 14, wherein the light branching ratio for transmitting and reflecting the light of the optical element is 1:

1.

23. An optical waveguide circuit comprising at least one set of an optical branched waveguide, including a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is provided at one side at least at the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides this to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflects part of the incident light and guides this to the second optical waveguide and

having connected to at least one optical waveguide of an input portion or an output portion thereof the optical waveguide of another optical branched waveguide.

24. An optical waveguide circuit as set forth in claim 23, comprising at least one set of the optical branched waveguides and having electrodes for applying an elecric field for creating an electro-optic effect at parts of the optical waveguides.

25. An optical waveguide circuit comprising at least one set of an optical branched waveguide, including a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is provided at one side at least at the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides this to the first optical waveguide, and reflects part of the incident light and guides this to the second optical waveguide and

having electrodes for applying an elecric field for creating an electro-optic effect at parts of the optical waveguides.

26. A process of producing an optical branched waveguide comprising a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is provided at one side at least at the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides this to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflects part of the incident light and guides this to the second optical waveguide,

in said process of producing an optical branched waveguide, the optical element being formed after formation of the groove at one side of the groove by inclining the substrate and performing vapor deposition or sputtering.

27. A process of producing an optical branched waveguide comprising a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is provided at one side at least at the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides this to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflects part of the incident light and guides this to the second optical waveguide,

said process of producing an optical branched waveguide including;

a step of forming a peelable film on the surface of the substrate in advance,

a step of forming the groove,

a step forming the optical element at one side of the groove by inclining the substrate and performing vapor deposition or sputtering, and

a step of peeling off the peelable film on the surface of the substrate and removing the film formed by vapor deposition or sputtering on the surface of the substrate.

28. An optical branched waveguide comprising:

a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle; and

an optical element which is provided in an intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, allows part of an incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides it to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflects part of the incident light and guides it to the second optical waveguide,

the width of the waveguide facing the optical element of at least one optical waveguide being set larger than the width of the waveguide of the other parts.

29. An optical branched waveguide comprising:

a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is inserted into at least at the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides it to the first optical waveguide and, at the same time, reflects part of the incident light and guides it to the second optical waveguide,

the width of the waveguide facing the groove being set larger than the width of the waveguide of the other parts.

30. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 29, wherein the groove and optical waveguides are formed so that an optical reflection angle of the light incident from the first optical waveguide caused by the optical element and an angle formed by the second optical waveguide with the first optical waveguide coincide.

31. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 29, wherein the wide width optical waveguide and other waveguide portion are connected by a step.

32. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 29, wherein the wide width optical waveguide and other waveguide portion are connected by a taper.

33. An optical branched waveguide comprising:

a substrate;

a first optical waveguide formed on the substrate;

a second optical waveguide formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle;

a groove formed in at least the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide of the substrate; and

an optical element which is inserted into at least at the intersecting region of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide in the groove, allows part of the incident light guided through the first optical waveguide to pass therethrough and guides it to the first optical waveguide, and reflects part of the incident light and guides it to the second optical waveguide,

the center axes of the optical waveguides sandwiching the groove being deviated by exactly a dimension corresponding to the deviation of the optical axes due to an average refractive index of the groove portion.

34. An optical branched waveguide as set forth in claim 33, where the groove and optical waveguides are formed so that an optical reflection angle of the light incident from the first optical waveguide caused by the optical element and an angle formed by the second optical waveguide with the first optical waveguide coincide.

35. An optical modulator comprising:

a substrate;

a first optical waveguide which is formed on the substrate, comprises an electro-optic material, has one end portion serving as a light incident portion;

a second optical waveguide which is formed on the substrate so as to intersect with the first optical waveguide at a predetermined angle, comprises an electro-optic material, and has one end portion serving as a light emitting portion;

a first full reflection optical member provided at the other end portion of the first optical waveguide;

a second full reflection optical member provided at the other end portion of the second optical waveguide;

a partial reflection optical member which is provided at the intersecting portion of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, reflects part of the light striking the first optical waveguide and makes it incident in the direction of the end portion of the side where the second full reflection optical member of the second optical waveguide is provided, allows part to pass therethrough and makes it incident in the direction of the first full reflection optical member of the first waveguide, reflects parts of the lights reflected at the first and second full reflection optical members and made incident upon it and guides the same to the other waveguide different from the optical waveguide to which the light was guided, and allows parts to pass therethrough and subsequently guides the same through the optical waveguide through which the light was guided; and

an electrode provided at least at one of a space between the partial reflection optical member and the first full reflection optical member of the first optical waveguide and a space between the partial reflection optical member and the second full reflection optical member of the second optical waveguide and applying an electric field based on a desired modulation signal to the optical waveguide.

36. An optical modulator as set forth in claim 35, wherein:

the substrate is formed with a groove having side walls covering the cross-section of the optical waveguides at the intersecting portion of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide and

the partial reflection optical member is formed by inserting a film member forming the partial transmission and partial reflection film for obtaining a desired light branching ratio into the groove.

37. An optical modulator as set forth in claim 35, wherein:

the substrate is formed with a groove having side walls covering the cross-section of the optical waveguides at the intersecting portion of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide and

the partial reflection optical member is configured by directly forming the partial transmission and partial reflection film for obtaining a desired light branching ratio on a side wall of the groove.

38. An optical modulator as set forth in claim 35, wherein the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide intersect each other at a large intersecting angle of 45 to 90°

.

39. An optical modulator as set forth in claim 38, wherein the first and second optical waveguides intersect at right angles to each other and the partial reflection optical member intersects the first and second waveguides at 45°

each.