Wideband Surface Coupling via Curved Mirror and Tapered Waveguide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in achieving efficient wideband surface coupling between photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and external optical devices, such as fibers and lasers, due to issues like signal losses, polarization dependency, and tight assembly tolerances.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wideband photonic bump (WBB) that includes a positive taper of a polymer waveguide to expand the light beam, a curved mirror for reflection, and a tilted flat mirror for directing the beam to an external optical fiber, allowing for surface coupling on a photonic integrated circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional end-coupling is used to achieve wideband optical coupling, then coupling efficiency is improved, but surface coupling capability is lost and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional coupling approach by transitioning from end-coupling to surface coupling. Instead of extending the waveguide to the end of the PIC for coupling, the light is coupled through the surface of the waveguide using a bump structure, fundamentally reversing the coupling geometry to achieve both wideband operation and surface coupling capability
2Manufacturing precision
If tight assembly tolerances are used in optical packaging, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coupling function into a separate bump structure that can be independently fabricated and then attached to the PIC. This segmentation allows the bump to serve as a self-aligning element with built-in alignment features, reducing the overall assembly tolerance requirements while simplifying the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The bump structure acts as an intermediary element between the PIC and the optical fiber. This intermediary provides mechanical support, alignment reference, and optical coupling functionality in one integrated component, eliminating the need for complex alignment mechanisms and reducing manufacturing complexity
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
The WBB enables high signal efficiency with relaxed alignment between the PIC and optical fibers, achieving low signal losses and thermal stability while allowing for wafer-level testing and efficient connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
a positive taper of a polymer waveguide configured to further expand a light beam from an inverse taper to match a fiber optical mode of an optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
a curved mirror formed on a surface of the WBB configured to reflect a light beam from the optical fiber
Implementation Method 3
a tilted flat mirror configured to direct the reflected light beam to an external optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
Optical connectors are described. The optical connectors may be configured to couple light beams and signals between optical components, for example, waveguides, optical fibers, transceivers, etc. The optical connectors may be configured to couple light beams with a transceiver of a photonic substrate. The connector may comprise a curved mirror. The curved mirror may be configured to interface light beams between an optical focusing element of the photonic substrate and a transceiver of the photonic substrate. A mode of the light beams may be converted.