Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Input/output coupler
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-03
2002-08-20
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Input/output coupler
C385S024000, C385S031000, C385S033000, C385S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06438291
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”
Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the optical coupling of light into and out of a monolithic waveguide device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Waveguide devices having a waveguide disposed on a substrate are well known. Typically these monolithic waveguide devices form various opto-electronic devices (OEDs) ranging from quantum well IR detectors to light sources. The coupling of radiation through the substrate is also possible in OEDs when the substrate is transparent.
One of the more difficult general problems to overcome concerning waveguides relates to efficiently coupling light into and out of these often layered, generally planar structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,150 in the name of Stegmueller et al., assigned to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, issued in 1993 relates to the coupling of light into a waveguide disposed on a substrate and including a mirror for reflecting light through the substrate discloses a plano-convex lens being integrated on a surface of the substrate lying opposite the waveguide. This device provides a means of coupling light from an optical fibre to a substrate within the waveguide chip. Although this device performs its intended function, it is very costly to manufacture and difficult to implement.
G.S. Pat. No. 5,447,695 entitled Waveguide-Optical Fiber Connection Structure And Waveguide-Optical Fiber Connection Method, in the name of Yamane Takashi et al, assigned to Fujitsu Limited of Japan, issued Sep. 17, 1996 discloses an improved simplified waveguide-optical fiber connection structure for connecting a waveguide to an optical fiber.
The waveguide-optical fiber connection structure comprises an optical fiber, a waveguide substrate having a waveguide integrally formed thereon and having a first guide groove formed thereon adjacent an end portion of the waveguide for positioning the optical fiber therein, and a fiber substrate provided in an opposing relationship to the first guide groove for cooperating with the first guide groove to hold the optical fiber thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,534 issued May 13, 1997, entitled Semiconductor device in the name of Inuzuka Hajime et al., discloses a monolithic photocoupler which is easy to integrate. An SOI structure is formed by providing a first insulation layer on a silicon substrate. The semiconductor single crystal region is further divided by trench insulation layers into separate regions. Light emitting elements are formed on one of the separated semiconductor single crystal region and light receiving elements are formed on the other semiconductor single crystal region. The light emitting elements are obtained by forming light emitting diodes made of GaAs or the like on the substrate using a heterogeneous growth process. An optical waveguide made of a material which is optically transparent and electrically insulative such as a TiO(2) film on each pair of light emitting and light receiving elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,696 entitled Self-aligned coupling of optical fiber to semiconductor laser or LED in the name of Carney; James K. assigned to Honeywell Inc. issued Aug. 21, 1984 is directed to the self-aligned coupling of the core of an optical fiber to the narrow stripe emitting spot in the active layer of a narrow stripe semiconductor laser. In this invention a V-groove is etched into the same substrate onto which the epitaxial layers for the narrow stripe laser have been grown.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,262 entitled method of making integrated optical component, in the name of Beguin; Alain M. J. assigned to Corning Incorporated discloses a method of making an integrated optical component in which a central planar region includes an optical circuit path and a lateral region includes an optical fiber positioning groove in alignment with the path. A glass body having central and lateral regions is coated with a mask material. A photolithographic technique is used to provide the mask material with a patterned opening in the central region corresponding in shape to the circuit path and a patterned opening in the lateral region corresponding to the shape of the alignment groove. A layer of resisting material is applied over the mask on the central region and the lateral region is etched to form the groove. The layer of resisting material is removed, and the zone of the central region that is exposed by the opening in the mask is subjected to an ion exchange process in order to form therein an optical path that is in registration with the fiber positioning groove.
Since many monolithic waveguide devices are merely components in larger optical systems, there is generally one common goal in many of the aforementioned patents; that is, coupling light into and out of monolithic waveguide structures. Although some of these patents are concerned with other aspects, the challenge of efficiently coupling light into and out of these monolithic waveguide structures without unwanted loss, and more particularly from an optical fibre into a planar or near planar waveguide chip remains a goal.
Currently, most technologies that relate to coupling light between an optical fibre and a waveguide chip attempt to provide solutions for enhancing the direct coupling between a fibre end face and an end or side of a waveguide chip. V-grooves and various other means have been employed to assist in the physical coupling of the fibre end face with a face of a waveguide chip, however these methods tend to be costly and difficult to employ.
It is believed that heretofore the combination of monolithic waveguide chips with bulk optics, to provide one or more functions is not known.
Heretofore, providing the well-known functions of filtering, isolating, or circulating, among others, within a monolithic planar waveguide chip has been extremely difficult if not impossible.
In accordance with this invention, hybrid modules are provided that complement the use of planar waveguides by their combination with bulk optics that are provided in a single package.
Advantageously, temperature stabilization can be more easily realized by combining by coupling bulk optics components with planar waveguides.
It is an object of this invention, to provide a new hybrid device that relies on both bulk optics components and at least a waveguide chip to provide useful functionality.
It is an object of the invention, to provide a method and device for relatively efficiently coupling light between one or more optical fibres and a waveguide chip.
It is an object of the invention to provide a means of relatively efficiently guiding light from one direction within a monolithic waveguide to another relatively opposite direction within the waveguide.
It is an object of the invention to provide a means of relatively and efficiently guiding light for a first direction in a first layer within a monolithic waveguide to layer in a substantially opposite direction by using a GRIN lens.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, there is provided, a hybrid light guiding system comprising:
a monolithic (planar) waveguide device having a light transmitting path therein extending to an end face thereof; and,
a GRIN lens system having a first end face thereof optically coupled with an optical fibre, and a second end face thereof optically coupled with the light transmitting path at the end face of the monolithic waveguide device.
In accordance with the invention, there is further provided, a hybrid light guiding system comprising:
a monolithic (planar) waveguide device having a first and second light transmitting path spaced apart a distance d
1
therein extending to an end face of the waveguide; and,
a first GRIN lens system having a first end face thereof optically coupled with the light transmitting paths at the end face of the monolithic waveguide device, the first GRIN lens system for receiving light from one of the first and second light transmitting paths and having a highly refle
Cheng Yihao
Duck Gary
Fabricius Norbert
Ingenhoff Jan
Font Frank G.
JDS Fitel Inc.
Lacasse & Associates LLC
Nguyen Sang H.
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