Optical coupler for coupling an optical fiber into a waveguide

• US 7,428,358 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Delaware
• Original Assignee: University of Delaware
• Inventors: Prather, Dennis W., Lu, Zhaolin
• Primary Examiner(s): HEALY, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US10/597,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20070031088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 385/49, 385/43, 385/27, 385/28, 385/30, 385/31, 385/36, 385/38, 385/39, 385/50, 385/129, 385/130, 385/131, 385/132, 385/14
• US Class Current: 385/49
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1223 high refractive index type, i.e. high-contrast waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1228 Tapered waveguides, e.g. integrated spot-size transformers for coupling with fibres G02B6/305
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/305 and having an integrated mode-size expanding section, e.g. tapered waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence

Abstract

An optical coupler for parallel coupling from a single mode optical fiber, or fiber ribbon, into a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguide for integration with silicon optoelectronic circuits. The optical coupler incorporates the advantages of the vertically tapered waveguides and prism couplers, yet offers the flexibility of planar integration. The optical coupler may be fabricated using wafer polishing technology or grayscale photolithography. The optical coupler can be packaged using epoxy bonding to form a fiber-waveguide parallel coupler or connector.

Claims

1. An optical coupler for coupling light from an optical fiber to a silicon-on-insulator waveguide, comprising:

first and second top planar portions;

a tapered top portion connecting the first and second top planar portions; and

a base portion connecting to the first and second top planar portions with side portions, the intersection of the base portion and one side portion forming a termination point;

wherein the tapered portion has a slope angle such that the light from the optical fiber reflects from the tapered portion and is incident upon the termination point, and the incident angle of the light at the termination point equals a mode angle of the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

2. An optical coupler as recited in claim 1, wherein the base portion faces the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

3. An optical coupler as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical coupler produces an evanescent electromagnetic field in a region below the base portion so that light travels through a gap between the base portion and the silicon-on-insulator waveguide and enters the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

4. An optical coupler as recited in claim 1, wherein the slope angle (α

) satisfies the following equation;

α

=(90°

−

Θ

_M)/2 where Θ

_M is the mode angle of the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

5. An optical coupler as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical coupler comprises silicon.

6. An optoelectronic package, comprising:

an optical fiber;

a silicon-on-insulator waveguide; and

an optical coupler affixed to the optical fiber and the silicon-on-insulator waveguide for coupling light from an optical fiber to a silicon-on-insulator waveguide, the optical coupler comprising;

first and second top planar portions;

a tapered top portion connecting the first and second top planar portions; and

a base portion connecting to the first and second top planar portions with side portions, the intersection of the base portion and one side portion forming a termination point;

wherein the tapered portion has a slope angle such that the light from the optical fiber reflects from the tapered portion and is incident upon the termination point, and the incident angle of the light at the termination point equals a mode angle of the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

7. An optoelectronic package as recited in claim 6, wherein the base portion faces the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

8. An optoelectronic package as recited in claim 6, wherein the optical coupler produces an evanescent electromagnetic field in a region below the base portion so that light travels through a gap between the base portion and the silicon-on-insulator waveguide and enters the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

9. An optoelectronic package as recited in claim 6, wherein the slope angle (α

) satisfies the following equation;

α

=(90°

−

Θ

_M)/2 where Θ

_M is the mode angle of the silicon-on-insulator waveguide.

10. An optoelectronic package as recited in claim 6, wherein the optical coupler comprises silicon.