Infinera Corporation

Roy R Davidson

Brent Everett Little

John V Hryniewicz

David M Gill

Philippe Patrick Absil

Wei Chen

Oliver S King

Wenlu Chen

An intermediate structure used to form an integrated optics device comprising a substrate, a cladding on the substrate, at least one real waveguide on the cladding, and at least one dummy waveguide optically coupled with the real waveguide. The real waveguide forms a part of a predetermined planar lightwave circuit. The dummy waveguide does not form a part of the predetermined planar lightwave circuit.

Highly symmetric optical structures

A plurality of mask images defines an optical circuit image in photoresist. Each of the mask images comprises parts of the optical circuit and the totality of all mask images together defines an optical circuit. The optical circuit is thus made up of plural optical elements some of which may be positioned in drop-in locations within the boundary of another optical circuit element. A photolithography system globally aligns and exposes the mask images in photoresist. The resultant composite image is substantially indistinguishable from a single image of the entire optical circuit. Different images for each of the mask image parts can be substituted with other images or image parts and thereby exponentially increasing the number of circuit permutations from a predetermined number of available mask images. A unique optical circuit, for example, can be generated from a pre-existing library of reticle images. The images are printed in predetermined locations on a substrate to define the desired optical circuit. Thus, predefined second optical circuit elements can be dropped in (imaged or exposed) locations within a first optical circuit.

Integrated optical circuits having drop-in locations for optical circuit elements

A method is disclosed for forming an optical circuit on a substrate. The method includes the deployment of a plurality of mask images to define an optical circuit image in photoresist. Each of the mask images define parts of the optical circuit and the totality of all mask images substantially define an optical circuit. A photolithography system globally aligns and exposes the mask images in photoresist. The resultant composite image is substantially indistinguishable from a single image of the entire optical circuit. Different images for each of the mask image parts can be substituted with other images or image parts and thereby exponentially increasing the number of circuit permutations from a predetermined number of available mask images. The method is also applicable to generating a unique optical circuit from a pre-existing library of reticle images. The images are printed in predetermined locations on a substrate to define the desired optical circuit.

Method of forming an integrated optical circuit

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MD, United States of America

Roy R Davidson