17461534. EDGE COUPLERS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME simplified abstract (TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.)
Contents
EDGE COUPLERS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
Organization Name
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Inventor(s)
Min-Hsiang Hsu of Hsinchu City (TW)
Chewn-Pu Jou of Hsinchu City (TW)
Chan-Hong Chern of Palo Alto CA (US)
Cheng-Tse Tang of Zhubei City (TW)
Yung-Jr Hung of Kaohsiung City (TW)
Lan-Chou Cho of Hsinchu-City (TW)
EDGE COUPLERS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17461534 titled 'EDGE COUPLERS AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME
Simplified Explanation
The patent application describes edge couplers that have a high coupling efficiency and low polarization dependent loss. These edge couplers are used for optically coupling an optical waveguide to an optical fiber.
- The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an optical waveguide, and a plurality of layers.
- The plurality of layers includes coupling pillars that are located at the edge of the semiconductor device.
- The coupling pillars form an edge coupler that is designed to optically couple the optical waveguide to an optical fiber placed at the edge of the semiconductor device.
Potential Applications
- Optical communication systems
- Fiber optic networks
- Data centers
- Telecommunications industry
Problems Solved
- High coupling efficiency: The edge couplers described in the patent application have a high coupling efficiency, which means that they can efficiently transfer light from the optical waveguide to the optical fiber.
- Low polarization dependent loss: The edge couplers also have low polarization dependent loss, which means that they can maintain the polarization state of the light during the coupling process.
Benefits
- Improved optical coupling: The edge couplers provide a high coupling efficiency, ensuring that a large amount of light is transferred from the optical waveguide to the optical fiber.
- Reduced signal loss: The low polarization dependent loss of the edge couplers helps to minimize signal loss during the coupling process.
- Versatile design: The edge couplers can be easily integrated into semiconductor devices, making them suitable for various applications in the optical communication industry.
Original Abstract Submitted
Disclosed are edge couplers having a high coupling efficiency and low polarization dependent loss, and methods of making the edge couplers. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device for optical coupling is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; an optical waveguide over the substrate; and a plurality of layers over the optical waveguide. The plurality of layers includes a plurality of coupling pillars disposed at an edge of the semiconductor device. The plurality of coupling pillars form an edge coupler configured for optically coupling the optical waveguide to an optical fiber placed at the edge of the semiconductor device.
