Integrated optical structural element, and method of producing t

Details Integrated optical structural element, and method of producing t Integrated optical structural element, and method of producing t

1996-09-06

1998-08-25

Ngo, John

Optical waveguides

Integrated optical circuit

264 124, 264 125, 264 129, 385131, 385132, G02B 610

Patent

active

057991170

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an integrated optical component and a method for producing an integrated optical component.
A method for producing a cover for an integrated optical circuit is already known from unpublished patent application DE-P 42 40 95 00. In accordance with this method, an optical component is placed on a molding die and in the process is disposed so that it is adjusted in respect to guide tabs, which are intended for the subsequent reception of waveguides, by adjustment devices of the molding die. A curable liquid is poured around the optical component and the molding die. After the liquid has cured, the molding die is removed and a cover containing an optical component which is disposed adjusted on guide tabs is obtained in this way. Subsequently this cover is placed on an integrated optical circuit, containing a waveguide, in such a way that the optical component is coupled with the waveguide.
From the article "Impedance Matching for Enhanced Waveguide/Photodetector Integration" by R. J. Deri, O. Wada in Appl. Phys. Lett. 55 (26), 1989, p. 2712, it is furthermore known to apply a buffer layer between a waveguide and a photodetector, which increases the optical coupling of the photodetector to the waveguide. For this purpose the refractive index of the buffer layer is matched to the refractive index of the waveguide and the refractive index of the photodetector. The buffer layer preferably consists of several layers to improve coupling.
It is known from the article "Analysis of Wavelength-Selective Photodetectors Based on Grating-Assisted Forward Coupling" by Hajime Sakata in Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 11, No. 4, Apr. 1993, p. 560, to employ an integrated photodetector, wherein the waveguide is constructed of different layers and a layer on the surface has a grating structure in the form of rectangular steps. The efficiency of the decoupling of light can be affected by the height of the steps of which the grating is constructed and by the refractive indices involved. The efficiency of the decoupling of light becomes maximal at an optical wavelength which is determined by the grating period used and has a pronounced wavelength selectivity.


SUMMARY

In contrast to the foregoing, the integrated optical component with the features of the invention has the advantage that the optical component can be produced in a cost-effective manner and the placement of the buffer layer on the optical component makes possible an improvement of the evanescent coupling of the waveguide to the optical component. In addition, the inventive integrated optical component has the advantage in contrast thereto that the coupling of the optical component to the waveguide is improved because the adjustment of the optical component on the waveguide is more precise.
In contrast thereto, the method in accordance with the invention for producing an integrated optical component has the advantage that the integrated optical component can be produced simply and cost-effectively by means of molding techniques. In addition, the method employed permits increased adjusting accuracy of the optical component in respect to the waveguide, because of which coupling of the optical component with the waveguide is improved.
Advantageous further developments and improvements of the integrated optical components and improvements of the method are possible by means of the additional steps. It is particularly advantageous to arrange the optical component, the buffer layer and the waveguide together in a substrate plate, since because of this the adjusting accuracy of the optical component with the buffer layer in respect to the waveguide is further increased and coupling is additionally improved.
It is of further advantage to match the refractive index of the buffer layer to the waveguide and the optical component in such a way that coupling of the optical component to the waveguide is increased. It is particularly advantageous to arrange relief strips during the molding of the integrated optical compon

REFERENCES:
patent: 5513288 (1996-04-01), Mayer
patent: 5562838 (1996-10-01), Wojnarowski et al.
patent: 5574806 (1996-11-01), Kragl et al.

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