Optical waveguide device, coherent light source, integrated unit, and optical pickup

• US 6,501,868 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kasazumi, Kenichi, Mizuuchi, Kiminori, Yamamoto, Kazuhisa, Kitaoka, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ellen E.
• Application Number:
  US09/687,118
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 385/14, 385/129, 385/130, 385/132, 385/88, 385/92-94, 385/37, 369/44.32, 369/44.23, 369/44.15
• US Class Current: 385/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/1204 Lithium niobate (LiNbO3)
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/126 using polarisation effects G02B6/1226 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

An optical waveguide device comprises a substrate having first and second surfaces, and an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide. Guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the first or second surface of the substrate.

Claims

1. An optical waveguide device comprising:

a substrate having first and second surfaces; and

an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide,

wherein guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the first surface of the substrate.

2. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of a nonlinear optical material, the guided light incident to the optical waveguide as a fundamental wave is wavelength converted into a second harmonic wave, and the second harmonic wave is transmitted.

3. An optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein the second harmonic wave is transmitted through the second surface of the substrate.

4. An optical waveguide device according to claim 3, wherein a thickness of the substrate is about 0.3 mm or more and about 1.0 mm or less.

5. An optical waveguide device according to claim 3, wherein a non-reflection portion is provided on the first surface of the substrate wherein the second harmonic wave is substantially not reflected off the non-reflection portion.

6. An optical waveguide device according to claim 5, wherein the non-reflection portion is made of antireflection coating.

7. An optical waveguide device to claim 3, wherein a diffraction grating is provided on the second surface of the substrate.

8. An optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein the second harmonic wave is transmitted through the first surface of the substrate.

9. An optical waveguide device according to claim 8, wherein a non-reflection portion is provided on the first surface of the substrate wherein the fundamental wave is substantially not reflected off the non-reflection portion.

10. An optical waveguide device according to claim 9, wherein the non-reflection portion is made of antireflection coating.

11. An optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein the second harmonic wave has a guide mode.

12. An optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a side of a groove provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate wherein the groove is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide;

and

a relationship given by;

13. An optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein a cladding layer is further provided on the first surface of the substrate;

The inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a side of a groove provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate wherein the groove is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide;

a relationship given by;

14. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein an angle attained from intersection of the inclined facet of the optical waveguide and the optical waveguide is about 45±

1°

.

15. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein a whole side of the substrate corresponding to the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is inclined with respect to the optical waveguide.

16. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a cut provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate, and the cut is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide.

17. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a groove provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate, and the groove is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide.

18. An optical waveguide device according to claim 17, wherein a cladding layer is provided on the first surface of the substrate excluding at least the groove.

19. An optical waveguide device according to claim 17, wherein a cladding layer is provided on the first surface of the substrate.

20. An optical waveguide device according to claim 19, wherein a relationship given by:

21. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is made of a first birefringence optical crystal.

22. An optical waveguide device according to claim 21, further comprising a second birefringence optical crystal provided in an optical path of the transmitted light, wherein an optical axis of the second birefringence optical crystal is orthogonal to an optical axis of the first birefrigence optical crystal of the substrate.

23. An optical waveguide device according to claim 22, further comprising a concave package, wherein the optical waveguide device is provided in the concave package;

and the concave package is sealed by the second birefringence crystal.

24. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second surfaces is substantially in a shape of a cylinder wherein the guided light is transmitted through the one of the first and second surfaces.

25. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical lens provided in an optical path of the guide light transmitted from the optical waveguide device.

26. An optical waveguide device according to claim 25, further comprising a concave package, wherein the optical waveguide device is provided in the concave package;

and the concave package is sealed by the cylindrical lens.

27. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a first facet including the light-incoming facet of the original waveguide and a second facet opposite the first facet;

an angle attained from intersection of a plane including a line of intersection of the inclined facet and the first surface of the substrate and a line of intersection of the second facet and the second surface of the substrate, and a direction in which the guided light is transmitted, is greater than half a divergence angle of the guided light transmitted through the second surface of the substrate.

28. An optical waveguide device according to claim 27, wherein a relationship given by:

29. An optical waveguide device according to claim 1, further comprising a periodic polarization inversion region provided in the first surface of the substrate.

30. An optical waveguide device according to claim 29, wherein the periodic polarization inversion region is not provided in the vicinity of the inclined facet of the optical waveguide.

31. A coherent light source comprising a semiconductor laser and an optical waveguide device according to claim 1.

32. A coherent light source according to claim 31, wherein the semiconductor laser is a tunable semiconductor laser.

33. A coherent light source according to claim 31, wherein a distance between a light-exiting facet of the semiconductor laser and the light-incoming facet of the optical waveguide is about 0 μ

m or more and about 10 μ

m or less.

36. An optical waveguide device according to claim 33, wherein a thickness of the substrate is about 0.3 mm or more and about 1.0 mm or less.

34. An optical waveguide device comprising:

a substrate having first and second surfaces;

an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide; and

a cladding layer provided on the first surface of the substrate, wherein

guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the second surface of the substrate,

and a relationship given by;

41. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, wherein an angle attained from intersection of the inclined facet of the optical waveguide and the optical waveguide is about 45±

1°

.

42. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, wherein a whole side of the substrate corresponding to the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is inclined with respect to the optical waveguide.

43. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, wherein the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a cut provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate, and the cut is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide.

44. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, wherein the substrate is made of a first birefringence optical crystal.

45. An optical waveguide device according to claim 44, further comprising a second birefringence optical crystal provided in an optical path of the transmitted light, wherein an optical axis of the second birefringence optical crystal is orthogonal to an optical axis of the first birefringence optical crystal of the substrate.

46. An optical waveguide device according to claim 45, further comprising a concave package, wherein the optical waveguide device is provided in the concave package, and the concave package is sealed by the second birefringence optical crystal.

47. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, wherein the second surface is substantially in a shape of a cylinder, and the guided light is transmitted through the second surface.

48. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, further comprising a cylindrical lens provided in an optical path of the guided light transmitted from the optical waveguide device.

49. An optical waveguide device according to claim 48, further comprising a concave package, wherein the optical waveguide device is provided in the concave package, and the concave package is sealed by the cylindrical lens.

50. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, wherein the substrate has a first facet including the light-incoming facet of the optical waveguide and a second facet opposite the first facet, and

an angle attained from intersection of (a) a plane including a line of intersection of the inclined facet and the first surface of the substrate, and a line of intersection of the second facet and the second surface of the substrate, and (b) a direction in which the guided light is transmitted, is greater than half a divergence angle of the guided light transmitted through the second surface of the substrate.

51. An optical waveguide device according to claim 50, wherein a relationship given by:

52. An optical waveguide device according to claim 34, further comprising a periodic polarization inversion region provided in the first surface of the substrate.

53. An optical waveguide device according to claim 52, wherein the periodic polarization inversion region is not provided in the vicinity of the inclined facet of the optical waveguide.

54. A coherent light source comprising a semiconductor laser and an optical waveguide device according to claim 34.

55. A coherent light source according to claim 54, wherein the semiconductor laser is a tunable semiconductor laser.

56. A coherent light source according to claim 54, wherein a distance between a light-exiting facet of the semiconductor laser and the light-incoming facet of the optical waveguide is about 0 μ

m or more and about 10 μ

m or less.

35. An optical waveguide device according to claim 35, wherein the substrate is made of nonlinear optical material, the guided light incident to the optical waveguide as a fundamental wave is wavelength converted into a second harmonic wave, and the second harmonic wave is transmitted.

37. An optical waveguide device according to claim 35, wherein a non-reflection portion is provided on the first surface of the substrate, and the second harmonic wave is substantially not reflected off the non-reflection portion.

38. An optical waveguide device according to claim 37, wherein the non-reflection portion includes an antireflection coating.

39. An optical waveguide device according to claim 35, wherein the second harmonic wave has a guide mode.

40. An optical waveguide device according to claim 35, wherein the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a side of a groove provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate wherein the groove is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide;

and

a relationship given by;

57. An optical waveguide device, comprising:

a substrate having first and second surfaces;

an optical waveguide provided in the first surface of the substrate, having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide; and

a cladding layer provided on the first surface of the substrate, wherein

a guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the first or second surface of the substrate,

the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a groove provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate, and the groove is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide, and

a relationship given by;

58. An optical waveguide device, comprising:

a substrate having first and second surfaces, the substrate being formed of a nonlinear optical material;

a cladding layer provided on the first surface of the substrate; and

an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide, wherein

guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the first or second surface of the substrate,

the guided light incident to the optical waveguide as a fundamental wave is wavelength converted into a second harmonic wave, and the second harmonic wave is transmitted,

the inclined facet of the optical waveguide is a side of a groove provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the substrate wherein the groove is substantially perpendicular to the optical waveguide, and

a relationship given by;

59. An optical waveguide device, comprising:

a substrate having first and second surfaces, the substrate being formed of a nonlinear optical material;

a diffraction grating is provided on the second surface of the substrate; and

an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide, wherein

guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the first or second surface of the substrate,

the guided light incident to the optical waveguide as a fundamental wave is wavelength converted into a second harmonic wave, and the second harmonic wave is transmitted through the second surface of the substrate.

60. An integrated unit comprising:

a coherent light source including a semiconductor laser and an optical waveguide device, the optical waveguide device comprising a substrate having first and second surfaces, and an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, the optical waveguide having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide;

a photodetector for detecting light associated with the light transmitted from the optical waveguide device; and

a submount wherein the coherent light source and the photodetector are provided on the same surface of the submount,

wherein guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally refelected off the inclined facet, and the guide light is transmitted through the second surface of the substrate, and

light from the semiconductor laser is incident to the optical waveguide.

61. An integrated unit according to claim 60, further comprising a light shielding member provided between the coherent light source and the photodetector.

62. An integrated unit according to claim 60, wherein a height of a surface of the photodetector is higher than a surface on a light-exiting side of the coherent light source with reference to a surface of the submount.

63. An integrated unit according to claim 60, wherein a concave portion is provided in a surface of the submount, and the coherent light source is provided in the concave portion.

64. An optical pickup comprising:

an integrated unit according to claim 60; and

A focusing optical system for converging light transmitted from the integrated unit,

wherein a diffraction grating is provided on a surface of the optical waveguide device of the integrated unit, the guided light being transmitted through the surface.

65. An optical pickup according to claim 64, wherein the photodetector of the integrated unit is divided into at least three regions including a first region positioned at a middle of the photodetector, and second and third regions on opposite sides of the first region, the second and third regions with respect to the first region are provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to a grate of the diffraction grating.

66. An integrated unit comprising:

a coherent light source including a semiconductor laser and an optical waveguide device, the optical waveguide device comprising a substrate having first and second surfaces, and an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, the optical waveguide having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide;

a photodetector for detecting light associated with the light transmitted from the optical waveguide device; and

a submount having a first and a second surface opposite the first surface wherein the coherent light source is provided on the first surface of the submount and the photodetector is provided on the second surface of the submount,

wherein guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the first surface of the substrate, and light from the semiconductor laser is incident to the optical waveguide device.

67. An integrated unit comprising:

a coherent light source including a semiconductor laser and an optical waveguide device, the optical waveguide device comprising a substrate having first and second surfaces, and an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, the optical waveguide having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide;

a concave package wherein the coherent light source is provided in the concave package; and

a transparent substrate for sealing the concave package wherein a diffraction grating is provided on a surface of the transparent substrate,

wherein guided light incident to the optical waveguide through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined facet, and the guided light is transmitted through the first or second surface of the substrate.

68. An optical pickup comprising:

an integrated unit according to claim 67; and

a focusing optical system for converging light transmitted from the integrated unit.

69. An optical pickup comprising:

a semiconductor laser;

an optical waveguide device comprising a substrate having first and second surfaces, and an optical waveguide provided on the first surface of the substrate, the optical waveguide having a light-incoming facet and a facet inclined with respect to the optical waveguide;

two photodetectors for detecting light associated with light transmitted from the optical waveguide device;

a submount wherein the laser, the optical waveguide and the two photodetectors are provided on the submount;

a focusing optical system for converting the light transmitted from the optical waveguide device; and

a diffraction element having lens action provided in the focusing optical system,

wherein guided light incident to the optical waveguide the through the light-incoming facet is totally reflected off the inclined fact, and the guided light is transmitted through the first or second surface of the substrate,

light from the semiconductor laser is incident to the optical waveguide device, and

the two photodetectors are provided on opposite sides of the optical waveguide device, the two photodetectors each have at least a center portion and a peripheral portion, and the two photodetectors are irradiated with light diffracted by the diffraction element.