Optical waveguide and spot size converter using the same

• US 8,285,092 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Deki, Yukari, Takahashi, Morio
• Primary Examiner(s): FONT, FRANK G
• Application Number:
  US12/531,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20100040327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 385/14, 385/28, 385/42, 385/43, 385/50
• US Class Current: 385/28
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1228 Tapered waveguides, e.g. integrated spot-size transformers for coupling with fibres G02B6/305
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/305 and having an integrated mode-size expanding section, e.g. tapered waveguide

Abstract

An optical waveguide includes a substrate in the shape of a flat plate; lower clad that is disposed on the substrate; and a core that is disposed on the lower clad and transmits light. The optical waveguide includes a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide. The first optical waveguide includes a first core on the lower clad, and is disposed so as to extend along a direction in which the light travels to a first position. The second optical waveguide includes a second core on the lower clad, is disposed so as to extend along a direction in which the light travels to a second position, and has a lower relative refractive index difference than the first optical waveguide. The first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide form, between the first position and the second position, a layer structure where the first core and the second core are disposed such that the first core is positioned a predetermined distance away from the second core in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. At least either the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide includes a mode coupling section and a mode conversion section. The mode coupling section includes a directional coupler to conduct the mode coupling of the first core and the second core between the first position and the second position. The mode conversion section is connected to the mode coupling section, and has a tapered core structure to adjust the mode diameter of the first core to the mode diameter of the second core.

Claims

1. An optical waveguide including a substrate in the shape of a flat plate, lower clad that is disposed on the substrate, and a core that is disposed on the lower clad and transmits light, the optical waveguide comprising:

a first optical waveguide that includes a first core on the lower clad as the core, and is disposed so as to extend along a direction in which the light travels to a first position of the optical waveguide; and

a second optical waveguide that includes a second core on the lower clad as the core, is disposed so as to extend along a second direction in which the light travels to a second position of the optical waveguide, and has a lower refractive index difference than the first optical waveguide does, wherein;

the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide form, between the first position and the second position, a layer structure where the first core and the second core are disposed such that the first core is positioned a predetermined distance away from the second core in a third direction perpendicular to the substrate; and

at least either the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide includes;

a mode coupling section that includes a directional coupler to conduct the mode coupling of the first core and the second core between the first position and the second position; and

a mode conversion section that is connected to the mode coupling section, and has a tapered core structure to adjust the mode diameter of the first core to the mode diameter of the second core,

wherein the second optical waveguide is sandwiched between an optical fiber and the first optical waveguide, such that the first optical waveguide is not positioned on an end face of the optical device.

2. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein

both the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have the mode conversion section and the mode coupling section.

3. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein

at least either the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide includes a reflection-free termination section having a tapered core structure the width of which gets thinner toward the tip near the tip of the mode coupling section.

4. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein

both the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide include a reflection-free termination section having a tapered core structure the width of which gets thinner toward the tip near the tip of the mode coupling section.

5. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein:

the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide form, between the first position and the second position, a layer structure where the first core and the second core are respectively disposed on a lower layer and an upper layer in the third direction perpendicular to the substrate; and

the mode coupling section includes a directional coupler to conduct the mode coupling of the first core disposed on the lower layer and the second core disposed on the upper layer between the first position and the second position.

6. A spot size converter that uses one of the optical waveguides claimed in claim 1.

7. An optical waveguide including a substrate in the shape of a flat plate, a lower clad that is disposed on the substrate, and a core that is disposed on the lower clad and transmits light, the optical waveguide comprising:

a first optical waveguide that includes a first core on the lower clad as the core, and is disposed so as to extend along a first direction in which the light travels to a first position of the optical waveguide; and

a second optical waveguide that includes a second core on the lower clad as the core is disposed so as to extend along a second direction in which the light travels to a second position of the optical waveguide, and has a lower refractive index difference than the first optical waveguide does, wherein;

the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide form, between the first position and the second position, a layer structure where the first core and the second core are disposed such that the first core is positioned a predetermined distance away from the second core in a third direction perpendicular to the substrate; and

at least either the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide includes;

a mode coupling section that includes a directional coupler to conduct the mode coupling of the first core and the second core between the first position and the second position; and

a mode conversion section that is connected to the mode coupling section, and has a tapered core structure to adjust a mode diameter of the first core to the mode diameter of the second core,

wherein the mode conversion section is separated from the mode coupling section, and the mode coupling section maintains a stable mode in which before light reaches the mode coupling section, mode conversion is carried out so that the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have an identical mode diameter.

8. The optical waveguide according to claim 7, wherein

both the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide have the mode conversion section and the mode coupling section.

9. The optical waveguide according to claim 7, wherein

at least either the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide includes a reflection-free termination section having a tapered core structure the width of which gets thinner toward the tip near the tip of the mode coupling section.

10. The optical waveguide according to claim 7, wherein

both the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide include a reflection-free termination section having a tapered core structure the width of which gets thinner toward the tip near the tip of the mode coupling section.

11. The optical waveguide according to claim 7, wherein:

the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide form, between the first position and the second position, a layer structure where the first core and the second core are respectively disposed on a lower layer and an upper layer in the third direction perpendicular to the substrate; and

the mode coupling section includes a directional coupler to conduct the mode coupling of the first core disposed on the lower layer and the second core disposed on the upper layer between the first position and the second position.

12. A spot size converter that uses one of the optical waveguides claimed in claim 7.