Oxide Taper Mode Converters for Passive Fiber-to-Chip Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for coupling optical fibers to nanowaveguides on chips require active alignment techniques for low loss connections, which are inefficient and impractical for high volume production, especially when multiple fibers are involved.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing oxide taper mode converters to passively align and fuse optical fibers to nanowaveguides, employing tapers on both the fiber and waveguide ends to achieve efficient optical coupling without active alignment, using techniques like laser ablation and mechanical grinding to form tapers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If active alignment techniques are used to achieve low loss connections, then connection loss is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming tapers on the optical fibers before coupling to the chip. The fiber ends are tapered using techniques like laser ablation or mechanical grinding to create a gradual transition in diameter, which anticipates the alignment requirements and enables passive alignment during assembly, thereby improving manufacturing throughput while maintaining low connection loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the fiber end by creating a tapered geometry instead of a flat end. This parameter change in the fiber structure (from uniform diameter to gradually decreasing diameter) modifies the optical mode profile to better match the nanowaveguide mode, enabling efficient coupling without active alignment and thus resolving the contradiction between connection loss and manufacturing productivity
2Loss of energy
If tight alignment tolerances are required for low loss connections, then connection efficiency improves, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the fiber end by introducing a taper with a specific angle and length. This parameter change transforms the optical mode at the fiber end to have better spatial overlap with the nanowaveguide mode, thereby relaxing the alignment tolerance requirements and improving ease of manufacture while maintaining high light transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered fiber end acts as an intermediary structure between the standard optical fiber and the nanowaveguide. This intermediate tapered section gradually transforms the optical mode from the fiber to match the waveguide mode, serving as a transition zone that reduces sensitivity to misalignment and facilitates easier manufacturing
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fibers are coupled to a chip, then functionality increases, but alignment complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-tapering all fiber ends before chip assembly. This advance preparation of the fiber geometry ensures that when multiple fibers are later coupled to the chip, they all benefit from the relaxed alignment tolerances provided by the tapers, enabling parallel or sequential coupling without requiring time-consuming active alignment for each fiber, thus reducing total alignment time while maintaining multiple functional connections
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
Enables efficient optical coupling with losses below 1 dB, allowing high throughput and low-cost fiber-to-chip connections suitable for mass production, with potential for automation and improved misalignment tolerance.
Implementation Method 1
Each cleaved fiber end is fused to each oxide taper mode converter respectively to optically couple and mode match each cleaved fiber end to each of the nanowaveguide ends of each of the at least one nanowaveguide via the oxide taper mode converter by a modal coupling
Implementation Method 2
using techniques like laser ablation and mechanical grinding to form tapers
Implementation Method 3
using techniques like laser ablation and mechanical grinding to form tapers
Implementation Method 4
Each cleaved fiber end is fused to each oxide taper mode converter respectively to optically couple and mode match
Data Source
AI summary
A device for attaching at least one optical fiber to a chip includes at least one nanowaveguide disposed on a substrate of a chip to be attached to an at least one off-chip fiber respectively. At least one oxide taper mode converter is disposed around a nanowaveguide end and in optical communication with and modally coupled to each of the at least one nanowaveguide respectively, and adapted such that each corresponding fiber of at least one off-chip fiber corresponds to a cleaved fiber end each cleaved fiber end to be fused to each oxide taper mode converter respectively to optically couple and mode match each cleaved fiber end to each of the nanowaveguide ends of each of the at least one nanowaveguide via the oxide taper mode converter by a modal coupling. A method for attaching at least one optical fiber to a chip is also described.