Photodetector coupled to a planar waveguide
First Claim
1. An electro-optical system comprising a planar optical structure and an electro-optical interface, the planar optical structure comprising a planar waveguide that terminates at an edge of the planar structure having a face and the electro-optical interface comprising a transparent substrate, which is transparent at a selected wavelength, attached at a first surface to the face of the edge of the planar structure to receive light from the waveguide and a first photodetector secured to the transparent substrate at a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface and aligned at a position to receive the light from waveguide through the transparent substrate.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved electro-optical system has a planar waveguide coupled to a photodetector through a transparent substrate. The planar waveguide is within a planar optical structure that can be part of optical communication network. The photodetector is positioned to receive light that passes from the waveguide through the transparent substrate. The photodetector can be electrically coupled to electrical circuitry along the transparent substrate for connection to a electrical apparatus. Corresponding methods for forming the electro-optical structure are described. These improved electro-optical systems can be used for terminating an optical transmission system at an end user or a local network associated with a group of end users.
23 Citations
30 Claims
- 1. An electro-optical system comprising a planar optical structure and an electro-optical interface, the planar optical structure comprising a planar waveguide that terminates at an edge of the planar structure having a face and the electro-optical interface comprising a transparent substrate, which is transparent at a selected wavelength, attached at a first surface to the face of the edge of the planar structure to receive light from the waveguide and a first photodetector secured to the transparent substrate at a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface and aligned at a position to receive the light from waveguide through the transparent substrate.
- 22. A method for interfacing an optical communication system with an electrical circuit, the method comprising converting an optical signal into an electrical signal wherein the optical signal is transmitted to a photodetector from a planar waveguide, wherein the optical detector is mounted on a substrate that is transparent to the optical signal and that is attached to the planar waveguide to form an optical pathway substantially directly from the planar waveguide through the substrate to the detector, and wherein the photodetector is electrically coupled to an electrical conductor along the transparent substrate surface.
Specification