Optical coupling structure
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an optical coupling structure disposed proximate a planar waveguide and within a low refractive index cladding region, whereinthe optical coupling structure includes a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion;
the first guiding portion having a first end proximate a core of the planar waveguide and having a first width, and a secondend proximate the second guiding portion and having a second width, wherein the second end of the first guiding portion has a first thickness; and
the second guiding portion having a first end adjacent to the second end of the first guiding portion and having a third width, and a second end having a fourth width, wherein the second end of the second guiding portion has a second thickness less than the firstthickness, and further wherein the second width is less than the third width at a point where the first and second guiding portions encounter one another, wherein the second guiding portion is end-coupleable to a single mode optical fiber and a cross-sectional area of the second end of the second guiding portion is less than about 1 percent of a cross-sectional area of a core of the single mode optical fiber to which the second guiding portion is end-coupleable.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for operation therefore. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes an optical coupling structure disposed within a cladding region, wherein the optical coupling structure includes a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion. In this embodiment the first guiding portion has a first end proximate a core of a planar waveguide, and a second end proximate the second guiding portion and having a first thickness. Moreover, in this embodiment the second guiding portion has a first end proximate the first guiding portion and a second end, the second end of the second guiding portion having a second thickness less than the first thickness.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An apparatus, comprising:
-
an optical coupling structure disposed proximate a planar waveguide and within a low refractive index cladding region, whereinthe optical coupling structure includes a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion; the first guiding portion having a first end proximate a core of the planar waveguide and having a first width, and a secondend proximate the second guiding portion and having a second width, wherein the second end of the first guiding portion has a first thickness; and the second guiding portion having a first end adjacent to the second end of the first guiding portion and having a third width, and a second end having a fourth width, wherein the second end of the second guiding portion has a second thickness less than the firstthickness, and further wherein the second width is less than the third width at a point where the first and second guiding portions encounter one another, wherein the second guiding portion is end-coupleable to a single mode optical fiber and a cross-sectional area of the second end of the second guiding portion is less than about 1 percent of a cross-sectional area of a core of the single mode optical fiber to which the second guiding portion is end-coupleable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for operating an apparatus, comprising:
-
sending an optical signal through a core of a single mode optical fiber; and coupling the optical signal from the core of the optical fiber to a core of a planar waveguide using an optical coupling structure disposed within a lower refractive index cladding region, the optical coupling structure including; a first guiding portion having a first end having a first width proximate the core of the planar waveguide and a second end having a second width, wherein the second end of the first guiding portion has a first thickness; and a second guiding portion having a first end having a third width adjacent to the second end of the first guiding portion and a second end having a fourth width proximate the core of the optical fiber, wherein the second end of the second guiding portion has a second thickness less than the first thickness, and further wherein the second width is less than the third width at a point where the first and second guiding portions encounter one another, and a cross-sectional area of the second end of the second guiding portion is less than about 1 percent of a cross-sectional area of the core of the single mode optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus, comprising:
-
an optical coupling structure disposed within a low refractive index cladding region, wherein the optical coupling structure includes a first guiding portion configured to couple to a planar waveguide and a second guiding portion end-coupleable to a single mode optical fiber; the first guiding portion having a first end with a first width proximate a core of the planar waveguide, and a second end with a second width proximate the second guiding portion and having a first thickness; and the second guiding portion having a first end with a third width adjacent to the second end of the first guiding portion and a second end with a fourth width, wherein the second end of the second guiding portion has a second thickness less than the first thickness, and further wherein the second width is less than the first width, and further wherein the second width is less than the third width at a point where the first and second guiding portions encounter one another, the fourth width is less than the third width, and a cross-sectional area of the second end of the second guiding portion is less than about 1 percent of a cross-sectional area of a core of the single mode optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20)
-
-
19. An apparatus, comprising:
-
an optical coupling structure disposed within a low refractive index cladding region, wherein the optical coupling structure includes a first guiding portion and a second guiding portion; the first guiding portion having a first end with a first width proximate a core of a planar waveguide, and a second end with a second width proximate the second guiding portion, the second end of the first guiding portion having a first thickness; and the second guiding portion having a first end with a third width adjacent to the second end of the first guiding portion and a second end with a fourth width proximate a core of an optical fiber, wherein the second end of the second guiding portion has a second thickness less than the first thickness, and further wherein the second width is less than the third width at a point where the first and second guiding portions encounter one another, and a cross-sectional area of the second end of the second guiding portion is less than about 1 percent of a cross-sectional area of the core of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
Specification