Multiple-core planar optical waveguides and methods of fabrication and use thereof

Patent 7164838 Issued on January 16, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date:

February 15, 2025. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Erbium-doped planar optical device
Patent #: 5119460
Issued on: 06/02/1992
Inventor: Bruce, et al.

3D integrated guiding structure
Patent #: 5159699
Issued on: 10/27/1992
Inventor: de Monts

Method of fabricating compound semiconductor device and optical semiconductor device Patent #: 6034983
Issued on: 03/07/2000
Inventor: Fujii, et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Xponent Photonics Inc

Application

No. 11058535 filed on 02/15/2005

US Classes:

385/131, Multilayer structure (mixture)385/14, INTEGRATED OPTICAL CIRCUIT385/129PLANAR OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE

Examiners

Primary: Song, Sarah

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Class

G02B 6/10

Abstract

A multiple-core optical waveguide comprises: a substrate; lower and upper waveguide core layers; a waveguide core between the upper and lower waveguide core layers; upper and lower cladding; and middle cladding between the upper and lower waveguide core layers substantially surrounding the waveguide core. Each of the lower, middle, and upper claddings has a refractive index less than refractive indices of the lower waveguide core layer, the upper waveguide core layer, and the waveguide core. Along at least a given portion of the optical waveguide, the upper and lower waveguide core layers extend bilaterally substantially beyond the lateral extent of a propagating optical mode supported by the optical waveguide, the lateral extent of the supported optical mode being determined at least in part by the width of the waveguide core along the given portion of the optical waveguide.

Other References

International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT App. No. PCT/US2006/005176.
Hilleringmann et al, Optoelectronic System Integration on Silicon: Waveguides, Photodetectors, and VLSI CMOS Circuits on One Chip, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, May 1995, pp. 841-846, vol. 42, No. 5.
Hoffman et al, Low-Loss Fiber-Matched Low-Temperature PECVD Waveguides with Small-Core Dimensions for Optical Communications Systems, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Sep. 1997, pp. 1238-1240, vol. 9, No. 9.
Horst et al, Compact, Tunable Optical Devices in Silicon-Oxynitride Waveguide Technology, Proc. Topical Meeting on Integrated Photonics Research, IPR 2000, 1999, Published in: Quebec Canada.
Kimerling, Photons to the Rescue: Microelectronics Becomes Microphotonics, Interface, Jun. 2000, pp. 28-31, volume Summer 2000, Publisher: The Electrochemical Society.
Liu et al, Fused InP-GaAs Vertical Coupler Filters, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Jan. 1999, pp. 93-95, vol. 11, No. 1.
Li et al, Silicon Optical Bench Waveguide Technology, Optical Fiber Telecommunications, 1997, pp. 319-376, vol. IIIB, Publisher: Academic Press, Published in: US.
Li et al, Silica-based optical integrated circuits, IEE Proc. -Optoelectron., Oct. 1996, pp. 263-280, vol. 143, No. 5.
Offrein et al, Resonant Coupler-Based Tunable Add-After-Drop Filter in Silicon-Oxynitride Technology for WDM Networks, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, Sep. 1999, pp. 1400-1406, vol. 5, No. 5.
De Ridder et al, Silicon Oxynitride Planar Waveguiding Structure for Application in Optical Communication, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, Nov. 1998, pp. 930-937, vol. 4, No. 6.
Shani et al, Efficient coupling of a semiconductor laser to an otpical fiber by means of a tapered waveguide on silicon, Applied Physics Letters, Dec. 4, 1998, pp. 2389-2391, vol. 55, No. 23.