The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 23, 2003
Margaret Ghiron, Allentown, PA (US);
Prakash Gothoskar, Allentown, PA (US);
Robert Keith Montgomery, Easton, PA (US);
Vipulkumar Patel, Monmouth Junction, NJ (US);
Soham Pathak, Allentown, PA (US);
Kalpendu Shastri, Orefield, PA (US);
Katherine A. Yanushefski, Zionsville, PA (US);
Margaret Ghiron, Allentown, PA (US);
Prakash Gothoskar, Allentown, PA (US);
Robert Keith Montgomery, Easton, PA (US);
Vipulkumar Patel, Monmouth Junction, NJ (US);
Soham Pathak, Allentown, PA (US);
Kalpendu Shastri, Orefield, PA (US);
Katherine A. Yanushefski, Zionsville, PA (US);
SiOptical Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
A trapezoidal shaped single-crystal silicon prism is formed and permanently attached to an SOI wafer, or any structure including a silicon optical waveguide. In order to provide efficient optical coupling, the dopant species and concentration within the silicon waveguide is chosen such that the refractive index of the silicon waveguide is slightly less than that of the prism coupler (refractive index of silicon≈3.5). An intermediate evanescent coupling layer, disposed between the waveguide and the prism coupler, comprises a refractive index less than both the prism and the waveguide. In one embodiment, the evanescent coupling layer comprises a constant thickness. In an alternative embodiment, the evanescent coupling layer may be tapered to improve coupling efficiency between the prism and the waveguide. Methods of making the coupling arrangement are also disclosed.