558 results about "Planar optical waveguide" patented technology

A planar optical device is formed on a substrate. The device comprises an array of waveguide cores which guide optical radiation. A cladding layer is formed contiguously with the array of waveguide cores to confine the optical radiation to the array of waveguide cores. At least one of the array of waveguide cores and cladding layer is an inorganic-organic hybrid material that comprises an extended matrix containing silicon and oxygen atoms with at least a fraction of the silicon atoms being directly bonded to substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon moieties. This material can be designed with an index of refraction between 1.4 and 1.55 and can be deposited rapidly to thicknesses of up to 40 microns. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a planar optical device obviates the need for a lithographic process. Illustratively, a method for forming an array of cores comprises the steps of: (1) preparing a waveguide core composition precursor material comprising at least one silane and a source of hydrocarbon moiety, (2) partially hydrolyzing and polymerizing the waveguide core precursor material to form a waveguide core composition, (3) using a mold, forming an array of waveguide cores comprising the waveguide core composition, and (4) completing hydrolysis and polymerization of the waveguide core composition under conditions effective to form an inorganic-organic hybrid material that comprises an extended matrix containing silicon and oxygen atoms with at least a fraction of the silicon atoms being directly bonded to substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon moieties. A cladding layer is then deposited over the array of waveguide cores. The use of the mold to pattern the array of waveguide cores obviates the need for a lithographic process.

There is provided a non-linear optical device for enhancing the bandwidth accessible in the nonlinear generation of an optical signal. The device comprises a planar optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide being operative to generate an optical output from an optical input having an input bandwidth by means of a non-linear optical process, the optical output having a wavelength within an accessible bandwidth, wherein the planar optical waveguide is operative to enhance the accessible bandwidth such that the ratio of the accessible bandwidth to the input bandwidth is at least 4. The device is particularly applicable to broad optical continuum generation, but may also be used in a parametric oscillator or amplifier arrangement with broad tuning range.

An optical module is disclosed. The optical module includes a substrate, and at least one planar optical waveguide that includes a plurality of waveguides and at least one groove vertically penetrating the upper surface of the substrate and which is successively laminated on the substrate. The optical module also includes at least one PCB having at least one integrated photoelectric conversion device that is positioned on the planar optical waveguide facing a corresponding groove, and at least one optical connection block including a body and optical fibers embedded in the body in such a manner that both ends thereof are exposed to the lateral and upper surfaces of the body. The optical connection block is inserted into the corresponding groove of the planar optical waveguide in such a manner that both ends of the optical fibers, which have been exposed, face the waveguides and the PCBs, respectively.

There is provided a non-linear optical device for enhancing the bandwidth accessible in the nonlinear generation of an optical signal. The device comprises a planar optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide being operative to generate an optical output from an optical input having an input bandwidth by means of a non-linear optical process, the optical output having a wavelength within an accessible bandwidth, wherein the planar optical waveguide is operative to enhance the accessible bandwidth such that the ratio of the accessible bandwidth to the input bandwidth is at least 4. The device is particularly applicable to broad optical continuum generation, but may also be used in a parametric oscillator or amplifier arrangement with broad tuning range. The planar waveguide geometry permits easy integration in more complex photonic integrated circuits such as a Michelson interferometer for low coherence interferometry based optical coherence tomography.

Methods of forming a tapered evanescent coupling region for use with a relatively thin silicon optical waveguide formed with, for example, an SOI structure. A tapered evanescent coupling region is formed in a silicon substrate that is used as a coupling substrate, the coupling substrate thereafter joined to the SOI structure. A gray-scale photolithography process is used to define a tapered region in photoresist, the tapered pattern thereafter transferred into the silicon substrate. A material exhibiting a lower refractive index than the silicon optical waveguide layer (e.g., silicon dioxide) is then used to fill the tapered opening in the substrate. Advantageously, conventional silicon processing steps may be used to form coupling facets in the silicon substrate (i.e., angled surfaces, V-grooves) in an appropriate relation to the tapered evanescent coupling region. The coupling facets may be formed contiguous with the tapered evanescent coupling region, or formed through the opposing side of the silicon substrate.

A mode-field transforming planar optical waveguide device includes an under cladding, a first core, a second core, and an over cladding. The under cladding has a flat shape as a whole. The first core has a quadrangular cross section and is placed on the under cladding. The second core is placed on a tapered end portion of the first core. The over cladding is placed in a region including the tapered end portion of the first core and the second core. The under cladding and the first core placed thereon constitute a first optical waveguide. The under cladding, the tapered end portion of the first core placed on the under cladding, the second core placed thereon, and the over cladding placed on and around the second core constitute a mode field size conversion portion. The under cladding, the second core, and the over cladding constitute a second optical waveguide. The first core is made of silicon. The first and second cores differ in cross-sectional shape. A manufacturing method for the optical module is also disclosed.

A method for producing light-scattering structures on flat optical waveguides into which light can be coupled for making the light-scattering structures visible. The light-scattering structures are applied to a surface of the optical waveguide in accordance with a predetermined arrangement prescription. The light-scattering structures are applied directly to the optical waveguide with a non-impact method. The application of the light-scattering structures can occur by imprinting with a computer-controlled, contactless-operating print head or by electro-photographic coating.

An integrated optical waveguide type surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor having an optical waveguide with a corresponding SPR sensing area, photodetectors, and wavelength tunable laser or any kind of external tunable laser source / coupler formed on a substrate. In an embodiment, the laser is a wavelength tunable laser and optionally, the integrated device may include a power source on the substrate for providing a electric power to the wavelength tunable laser and the photodetectors, or a circuit for signal processing, or a microfluidic structure for routing a target sample to the SPR sensor area. The microfluidic structure optionally includes a mixer or a reaction chamber for mixing and allowing a physical or chemical reaction to occur, respectively. In an embodiment, plural planar integrated optical waveguide type SPR sensors may be fabricated on a substrate to form an array of SPR sensors.