Optical waveguide device and optical waveguide module

• US 7,212,709 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hosoi, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/167,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 385/37, 385/15, 385/31, 385/39, 385/50
• US Class Current: 385/37
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12147 Coupler
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12011 characterised by the arrayed waveguides, e.g. comprising a filled groove in the array section
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12014 characterised by the wavefront splitting or combining section, e.g. grooves or optical elements in a slab waveguide

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical waveguide device and an optical waveguide module having the function to multiplex/demultiplex or couple/decouple optical signals and particularly to provide an optical waveguide device and an optical waveguide module for realizing low optical loss, reducing wavelength dependence and ensuring easier shape management in the manufacturing and inspection processes. The optical waveguide device and optical waveguide module are provided with a substrate, one or more first waveguides, a plurality of second waveguides, and a slab waveguide for connecting the first waveguides and the second waveguides. At a region where the second waveguides are connected to the slab waveguide, a plurality of waveguide paths are provided for respectively connecting the second waveguides. Width of the waveguide paths is constant. The width of the separation gap between waveguide paths progressively increases as it becomes further away from the slab waveguide.

Claims

1. An optical waveguide device comprising:

a substrate;

one or more first waveguides arranged on said substrate;

a plurality of second waveguides arranged on said substrate; and

a slab waveguide arranged on said substrate to connect said first waveguides and said second waveguides,

wherein said second waveguides are provided with a plurality of waveguide paths for connecting said second waveguides respectively at the region close to said slab waveguide; and

width of each of said waveguide paths is constant and the width of separation gap between said adjacent waveguide paths progressively increases as it becomes further away from said slab waveguide.

7. The optical waveguide device according to claim 1, wherein said width of each of said waveguide paths is within the range of 50% to 150% of the width of said second waveguides.

19. An optical waveguide module comprising:

the optical waveguide device of claim 1;

one or more first optical fibers connected to said first waveguides;

a plurality of second optical fibers connected to said second waveguides; and

a case for housing these elements.

2. An optical waveguide device comprising:

a substrate;

one or more first waveguides arranged on said substrate;

a plurality of second waveguides arranged on said substrate; and

a slab waveguide arranged on said substrate to connect said first waveguides and said second waveguides;

wherein said second waveguides are provided, at the region close to said slab waveguide, with a plurality of waveguide paths for connecting said second waveguides respectively; and

width of each of said waveguide paths is constant and the period in arrangement interval of said waveguide paths progressively increases as it becomes further away from said slab waveguide.

3. The optical waveguide device according to claim 2 satisfies the relationship Λ

(a_x)−

W(s_x)=W, x=1 to n,

wherein said width of each of said waveguide paths is W, width of separation gap between said adjacent waveguide paths is W(s_x), and said period is Λ

(a_x).

4. The optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein said period progressively increases linearly for the distance from said slab waveguide.

5. The optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein said period progressively increases in accordance with an exponential function for the distance from said slab waveguide.

6. The optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein said period progressively increases in accordance with an n-th order function (n is a positive integer) for the distance from said slab waveguide.

8. The optical waveguide device according to claim 2, wherein said width of each of said waveguide paths is within the range of 50% to 150% of the width of said second waveguides.

20. An optical waveguide module comprising:

the optical waveguide device of claim 2;

one or more first optical fibers connected to said first waveguides;

a plurality of second optical fibers connected to said second waveguides; and

a case for housing these elements.

9. An optical waveguide device comprising:

a substrate;

one or more first waveguides arranged on said substrate;

a channel waveguide array arranged on said substrate with a plurality of waveguides and formed so that length of each waveguide sequentially becomes longer with the predetermined difference in the length of waveguides;

a plurality of second waveguides arranged on said substrate;

a first slab waveguide arranged on said substrate to connect said first waveguides and said channel waveguide array; and

a second slab waveguide arranged on said substrate to connect said channel waveguide array and said second waveguides,

wherein said channel waveguide array is provided with a plurality of waveguide paths for connecting waveguides of said channel waveguide array respectively at least one of the regions close to said first slab waveguide and said second slab waveguide, and

width of each of said waveguide paths is constant and width of separation gap between said adjacent waveguide paths progressively increases as it becomes further away from said slab waveguide of the side arranged said waveguide paths.

15. The optical waveguide device according to claim 9, wherein said width of each of said waveguide paths is within the range of 50% to 150% of the width of said second waveguides.

17. The optical waveguide device according to claim 9, wherein said waveguide paths are provided in both near regions where said channel waveguide array is connected to said first slab waveguide and to said second slab waveguide.

21. An optical waveguide module comprising:

the optical waveguide device of claim 9;

one or more first optical fibers connected to said first waveguides;

a plurality of second optical fibers connected to said second waveguides; and

a case for housing these elements.

23. The optical waveguide module according to claim 21, further comprising:

a temperature detecting means for temperature detection of said substrate; and

a temperature control means for temperature control of said substrate.

10. An optical waveguide device comprising:

a substrate;

one or more first waveguides arranged on said substrate;

a channel waveguide array arranged on said substrate with a plurality of waveguides and formed so that length of each waveguide sequentially becomes longer with the predetermined difference in the length of waveguides;

a plurality of second waveguides arranged on said substrate;

a first slab waveguide arranged on said substrate to connect said first waveguides and said channel waveguide array; and

a second slab waveguide arranged on said substrate to connect said channel waveguide array and said second waveguides,

wherein said channel waveguide array is provided with a plurality waveguide paths for connecting waveguides of said channel waveguide array respectively at least one of the regions close to said first slab waveguide and said second slab waveguide; and

width of each of said waveguide paths is constant and period in arrangement interval of said waveguide paths progressively increases as it becomes further away from said slab waveguide of the side arranged said waveguide paths.

11. The optical waveguide device according to claim 10 satisfies the relationship Λ

(a_x)−

W(s_x)=W, x=1 to n,

wherein said width of each of said waveguide paths is W, width of separation gap between said adjacent waveguide paths is W(sx), and said period is Λ

(a_x).

12. The optical waveguide device according to claim 10, wherein said period progressive increases linearly for the distance from said slab waveguide.

13. The optical waveguide device according to claim 10, wherein said period progressively increases in accordance with an exponential function for the distance from said slab waveguide.

14. The optical waveguide device according to claim 10, wherein said period progressively increases in accordance with an n-th order function (n is a positive integer) for the distance from said slab waveguide.

16. The optical waveguide device according to claim 10, wherein said width of each of said waveguide paths is within the range of 50% to 150% of the width of said second waveguides.

18. The optical waveguide device according to claim 10, wherein said waveguide paths are provided in both near regions where said channel waveguide array is connected to said first slab waveguide and to said second slab waveguide.

22. An optical waveguide module comprising:

the optical waveguide device of claim 10;

one or more first optical fibers connected to said first waveguides;

a plurality of second optical fibers connected to said second waveguides; and

a case for housing these elements.

24. The optical waveguide module according to claim 22, further comprising:

a temperature detecting means for temperature detection of said substrate; and

a temperature control means for temperature control of said substrate.