EP0331332A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device including a component in alignment with a substrate-supported waveguide
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1989-02-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-22
Abstract
Abstract In an optical device such as, e.g., an optical communications coupler or an optical gyroscope, a substrate-supported waveguide is aligned with a device component such as, e.g., an optical fiber or a photodetector. Optical alignment of such component (61) relative to the waveguide (64) is facilitated as the component is located in a preferentially etched groove (31) in the substrate supporting the waveguide (11). In the case of an optical fiber connection, optical coupling is facilitated by a ledge structure (41) overhanging a sloping etched wall of a groove holding the fiber (14). In the case of a photodetector, an etched groove may be essentially perpendicular to the direction of light propagation.
Inventors
- 👤 Greg E. Blonder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4248; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4228; G02B6/423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A device comprising an optical waveguide on an essentially single-crystal substrate, and an optical fiber axially aligned with said waveguide, alignment being as resulting upon placement of said optical fiber in a preferentially etched groove in said substrate, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said groove undercuts said waveguide for a distance which is sufficient to permit optical butt coupling between said waveguide and said fiber, butt coupling being defined as resulting either in physical contact between said waveguide and said fiber or in a distance between said waveguide and said fiber which is less than a mode diameter of said fiber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A device comprising an optical waveguide on an essentially single-crystal substrate, and an optical fiber axially aligned with said waveguide, alignment being as resulting upon placement of said optical fiber in a preferentially etched groove in said substrate, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said groove undercuts said waveguide for a distance which is sufficient to permit optical butt coupling between said waveguide and said fiber, butt coupling being defined as resulting either in physical contact between said waveguide and said fiber or in a distance between said waveguide and said fiber which is less than a mode diameter of said fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1, said optical fiber terminating in a surface which, at least across a core region of said fiber, is essentially perpendicular to the fiber axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 2, said fiber terminating in a taper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 in which said substrate is a (100)-silicon substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 in which said groove is a V-groove.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
64 words
A device comprising an optical waveguide on an essentially single-crystal substrate, and an optical component aligned with said waveguide in optical coupling relationship, alignment being as resulting upon placement of said optical component in a preferentially etched groove in said substrate, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the orientation of said groove has a significant component perpendicular to the direction of light propagation in said optical waveguide.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
64 words
A device comprising an optical waveguide on an essentially single-crystal substrate, and an optical component aligned with said waveguide in optical coupling relationship, alignment being as resulting upon placement of said optical component in a preferentially etched groove in said substrate, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the orientation of said groove has a significant component perpendicular to the direction of light propagation in said optical waveguide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 6, said component being a light detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 6, said groove being a V-groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 6, said groove being a vertical groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 6, said component being in butt-coupling relationship with said waveguide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 6, optical coupling between said waveguide and said component being across a significant distance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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