Meta platforms technologies, llc (20240134115). WAVEGUIDE COUPLER FOR COUPLING LASER BEAM INTO PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT simplified abstract

WAVEGUIDE COUPLER FOR COUPLING LASER BEAM INTO PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

Organization Name

meta platforms technologies, llc

Inventor(s)

Mohit Khurana of College Station TX (US)

John Goward of Oxford (GB)

Rahul Agarwal of Woodinville WA (US)

James Ronald Bonar of Redmond WA (US)

WAVEGUIDE COUPLER FOR COUPLING LASER BEAM INTO PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240134115 titled 'WAVEGUIDE COUPLER FOR COUPLING LASER BEAM INTO PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes an edge coupler for coupling a light beam into a waveguide, consisting of three waveguide sections with varying widths and thicknesses.

• The first waveguide section has a constant width and thickness.
• The second waveguide section is physically coupled to the first section and has a gradually decreasing width.
• The third waveguide section partially overlaps with the second section, has a gradually increasing width, and a different thickness from the first section.

• • Potential Applications:**

This technology can be used in optical communication systems, photonic integrated circuits, and sensing applications where efficient light coupling is required.

• • Problems Solved:**

This innovation solves the problem of efficiently coupling a light beam into a waveguide with minimal loss and maximum efficiency.

• • Benefits:**

The edge coupler design allows for improved light coupling efficiency, reduced signal loss, and enhanced performance of optical devices.

• • Potential Commercial Applications:**

Potential commercial applications include telecommunications equipment, optical sensors, medical devices, and data communication systems.

• • Possible Prior Art:**

One possible prior art could be traditional edge couplers with fixed widths and thicknesses, which may not provide optimal light coupling efficiency compared to the innovative design described in the patent application.

• • Unanswered Questions:**

1. How does the edge coupler design impact the overall size and cost of optical devices utilizing this technology? 2. Are there any limitations or challenges in manufacturing the edge coupler with varying widths and thicknesses in mass production?

Original Abstract Submitted

an edge coupler for coupling a light beam (e.g., a laser beam) into a waveguide comprises a first waveguide section characterized by a first thickness and a first constant width, a second waveguide section physically coupled to the first waveguide section and characterized by the first thickness and a gradually decreasing width, and a third waveguide section partially overlapping with the second waveguide section at an overlap region, the third waveguide section characterized by a gradually increasing width and a second thickness different from (e.g., greater than) the first thickness. in some embodiments, a surface (e.g., the top or bottom surface) of the second waveguide section and a surface (e.g., the top or bottom surface) of the third waveguide section are on a same plane.