Apparatus comprising at least one optical device optically coupled to at least one waveguide on an optical chip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018601-A1
Application number	US-201314392048-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2013
Priority date	Dec 4, 2012
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus comprising at least one optical device ( 106 ) optically coupled to at least one waveguide ( 111 ) on an optical chip ( 100 ), characterised in that: (i) the optical device ( 106 ) is optically aligned with the waveguide ( 111 ) by aligning means ( 114, 116 ); (ii) the aligning means ( 114, 116 ) comprises at least one male member ( 114 ) and at least one female ( 116 ) member which locate together; (iii) one of the male member ( 114 ) and the female member ( 116 ) is positioned on the optical chip ( 100 ); (iv) the other one of the male member ( 114 ) and the female member ( 116 ) is positioned on a capping chip ( 102 ); and (v) the apparatus includes a mirror ( 108 ) for reflecting light from the optical device ( 106 ) to the waveguide ( 111 ).

First claim

1 . Apparatus comprising at least one optical device optically coupled to at least one waveguide on an optical chip, characterised in that:
(i) the optical device is optically aligned with the waveguide by aligning means; (ii) the aligning means comprises at least one male member and at least one female member which locate together; (iii) one of the male member and the female member is positioned on the optical chip; (iv) the other one of the male member and the female member is positioned on a capping chip; and (v) the apparatus includes a mirror for reflecting light from the optical device to the waveguide.

2 . Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the female member is positioned on the optical chip, and in which the male member is positioned on the capping chip.

3 . Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the optical device is located in a groove in the capping chip.

4 . Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the groove is a V-shaped groove.

5 . Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the optical device is an optical fibre.

6 . Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the optical device is a laser.

7 . Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the male member is made of silicon nitride.

8 . Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the optical device is coupled to the waveguide in the plane of the waveguide.

9 . Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the optical device is coupled to the waveguide out of the plane of the waveguide.

10 . Apparatus according to claim 9 and including a grating for coupling the optical device to the waveguide.

Assignees

• Univ Southampton

Inventors

• Gardes Frederic Yannick
• Thomson David John
• Reed Graham Trevor
• Chong Harold Meng Hoon
• Reynolds Scott Ashley

Classifications

• G02B2006/12107

  Grating · CPC title

• G02B6/4224

  using visual alignment markings, e.g. index methods · CPC title

• G02B6/4214

  the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device (G02B6/4246 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3692

  with surface micromachining involving etching, e.g. wet or dry etching steps (surface micromachining involving subtractive techniques B81C1/00055) · CPC title

• G02B6/3652

  the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers · CPC title