Optical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016209595-A1
Application number	US-201615083949-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical device and a method of manufacturing an optical device. The optical device includes: a conversion means for converting propagation light propagating through an optical waveguide into parallel light and for outputting the parallel light; and a first lens means for focusing the parallel light outputted from the conversion means on a core of an optical fiber. The method includes: converting propagation light propagating through an optical waveguide into parallel light; outputting the parallel light; and focusing, using a first lens, the parallel light on a core of an optical fiber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An optical device comprising:
a conversion means for converting propagation light propagating through an optical waveguide into parallel light and for outputting the parallel light; and a first lens means for focusing the parallel light outputted from the conversion means on a core of an optical fiber.

2 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the conversion means includes a grating means to bend the propagation light at a right angle to convert the propagation light to parallel light.

3 . The optical device according to claim 2 , wherein the grating means is a reflective surface provided with a plurality of V-shaped grooves arranged in parallel, in which the surface on one side of each V-shaped groove forms a 45-degree incline.

4 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the conversion means comprises:
a reflecting means forming a 45-degree tilted surface for reflecting the propagation light; and a second lens means, having a focal point at a point on which the propagation light is reflected by the reflecting means, that converts the propagation light reflected by the reflecting means into parallel light.

5 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the parallel light strikes a convex lens surface of the first lens means, and wherein opposite the convex lens surface of the first lens means a recess is formed for accommodating the optical fiber so the parallel light is focused on the core of the optical fiber.

6 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide is a silicon thin-film waveguide.

7 . A method for manufacturing an optical device comprising:
converting propagation light propagating through an optical waveguide into parallel light; outputting the parallel light; and focusing, using a first lens, the parallel light on a core of an optical fiber.

8 . The method for manufacturing an optical device according to claim 7 , wherein converting the propagation light includes bending the propagation light at a right angle to convert the propagation light to parallel light.

9 . The method for manufacturing an optical device according to claim 8 , wherein bending the propagation light is carried out using a reflective surface with a plurality of V-shaped grooves arranged in parallel, in which the surface on one side of each V-shaped groove forms a 45-degree incline.

10 . The method for manufacturing an optical device according to claim 7 , wherein converting the propagation light further comprises:
forming a 45-degree tilted surface on a reflective surface for reflecting the propagation light; and using a second lens having a focal point at a point on which the propagation light is reflected by the reflective surface to convert the propagation light reflected into parallel light.

11 . The method for manufacturing an optical device according to claim 7 , wherein the parallel light strikes a convex lens surface of the first lens, and wherein opposite the convex lens surface of the first lens a recess is formed for accommodating the optical fiber so the parallel light is focused on the core of the optical fiber.

12 . The method for manufacturing an optical device according to claim 7 , wherein the optical waveguide is a silicon thin-film waveguide.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Taira Yoichi

Classifications

• G02B6/34

  utilising prism or grating {(G02B6/293 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G02B6/32

  having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} · CPC title

• G02B6/30 Primary

  for use between fibre and thin-film device · CPC title

• G02B6/262

  Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements · CPC title

• G02B6/124

  Geodesic lenses or integrated gratings · CPC title