Passive Aligning Optical Coupler Array for Waveguide Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical coupler technologies face challenges in achieving low-loss, high-accuracy connections between optical waveguide devices with closely spaced waveguides and conventional optical fibers, particularly due to differences in core sizes and numerical apertures, leading to increased insertion losses and decreased coupling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The development of a multifiber array with a common single coupler housing structure and vanishing core waveguides, which have refractive indices and core sizes that change along the optical element to optimize coupling efficiency, allowing for precise alignment and reduced channel-to-channel spacing, thereby improving optical coupling between optical fibers and waveguides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional optical fibers are used to interface with waveguide devices having smaller core sizes and different NAs, then the device can be designed with compact dimensions, but insertion losses increase and coupling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical coupler array as an intermediary component between conventional optical fibers and waveguide devices. This coupler array serves as a mediator that adapts the optical interface, enabling efficient coupling between dissimilar optical components with different core sizes and NAs while maintaining compact device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs vanishing core waveguides with gradually changing refractive indices and core sizes along the optical element. These parameter changes enable the waveguide to transition from a larger effective mode area at one end to a smaller core size at the other end, matching the different optical interface requirements and reducing insertion losses.
2Quantity of substance
If waveguide devices with closely spaced waveguides are used, then channel density increases, but alignment precision becomes more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical couplers into a single integrated coupler array structure. This unified design allows precise alignment of multiple waveguides with closely spaced channels, as the entire array can be positioned and aligned as one component, maintaining high channel density while ensuring accurate alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates passive alignment features during the manufacturing process that pre-establish precise positional relationships between waveguides and optical fibers. This preliminary alignment action ensures accurate positioning before the device is assembled and used, reducing the need for complex active alignment procedures.
3Loss of energy
If vanishing core waveguides with changing refractive indices are used, then coupling efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vanishing core waveguides with gradually changing refractive indices and core sizes along the optical element. These parameter changes enable the waveguide to transition from a larger effective mode area at one end to a smaller core size at the other end, matching the different optical interface requirements and reducing insertion losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite waveguide structures combining different materials with specific refractive indices to achieve the desired optical properties. This approach allows precise control over light propagation and coupling efficiency while managing the overall device complexity through material science advancements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables high-coupling efficiency with reduced optical losses and improved alignment accuracy, effectively addressing the challenges of interfacing dissimilar NA waveguide devices and maintaining waveguiding properties across the optical coupler array.
Implementation Method 1
vanishing core waveguides, which have refractive indices and core sizes that change along the optical element to optimize coupling efficiency
Implementation Method 2
maintaining waveguiding properties across the optical coupler array
Data Source
AI summary
An optical coupler array can include an elongated optical element having a coupler housing structure and at least one longitudinal waveguide embedded in said housing structure. The housing structure can have an outer cross sectional shape comprising a first side comprising one or more curved portions and a second side comprising one or more flat portions. The second side can be disposed at a distance from the at least one longitudinal waveguide such that waveguiding properties are preserved and not disturbed.