Integrated photonics mode expander
First Claim
1. A waveguide mode expander comprising:
- a substrate;
a first cladding layer;
a metal layer that bonds the first cladding layer to the substrate;
a tapered shoulder portion, formed of a first layer of a high bandgap semiconductor material and disposed atop the first cladding layer, wherein;
the first layer defines a thickness;
the shoulder portion forms;
a length from an input end to an output end,a first width at the input end, anda second width that is larger than the first width, at the output end; and
a tapered ridge portion, overlying the shoulder portion and formed of one or more additional tapered portions of high bandgap semiconductor materials, wherein;
each of the additional portions is formed of an additional layer having an individual layer thickness;
each of the additional portions forms;
a sequentially shorter length than the length of the shoulder portion and the length of any underlying additional portions;
a first additional portion width at an end of the additional portion that is closest to the input end, anda second additional portion width that is larger than the first additional portion width, at the output end;
such that the tapered ridge portion and the tapered shoulder portion are configured to expand an optical beam propagating through the waveguide mode expander from the input end to the output end.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of fabricating a waveguide mode expander includes providing a substrate including a waveguide, bonding a chiplet including multiple optical material layers in a mounting region adjacent an output end of the waveguide, and selectively removing portions of the chiplet to form tapered stages that successively increase in number and lateral size from a proximal end to a distal end of the chiplet. The first optical material layer supports an input mode substantially the same size as a mode exiting the waveguide. One or more of the overlying layers, when combined with the first layer, support a larger, output optical mode size. Each tapered stage of the mode expander is formed of a portion of a respective layer of the chiplet. The first layer and the tapered stages form a waveguide mode expander that expands an optical mode of light traversing the chiplet.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A waveguide mode expander comprising:
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a substrate; a first cladding layer; a metal layer that bonds the first cladding layer to the substrate; a tapered shoulder portion, formed of a first layer of a high bandgap semiconductor material and disposed atop the first cladding layer, wherein; the first layer defines a thickness; the shoulder portion forms; a length from an input end to an output end, a first width at the input end, and a second width that is larger than the first width, at the output end; and a tapered ridge portion, overlying the shoulder portion and formed of one or more additional tapered portions of high bandgap semiconductor materials, wherein; each of the additional portions is formed of an additional layer having an individual layer thickness; each of the additional portions forms; a sequentially shorter length than the length of the shoulder portion and the length of any underlying additional portions; a first additional portion width at an end of the additional portion that is closest to the input end, and a second additional portion width that is larger than the first additional portion width, at the output end; such that the tapered ridge portion and the tapered shoulder portion are configured to expand an optical beam propagating through the waveguide mode expander from the input end to the output end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification