18357181. Grating coupler with high efficiency simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)
Contents
Grating coupler with high efficiency
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Nurul Taimur Islam of Cupertino CA (US)
Helen H. Liang of Los Gatos CA (US)
Malcolm J. Northcott of Santa Cruz CA (US)
Grating coupler with high efficiency - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18357181 titled 'Grating coupler with high efficiency
Simplified Explanation
The patent application describes an optical coupling device that uses waveguides and diffraction gratings to manipulate the propagation of light. Here is a simplified explanation of the abstract:
- The device consists of multiple layers, including a first waveguide layer made of a semiconductor material, which is placed on top of a dielectric substrate layer.
- A dielectric intermediate layer is then added on top of the first waveguide layer.
- A second waveguide layer, made of a different semiconductor material, is placed on top of the dielectric intermediate layer and is patterned to create a waveguide.
- Within the second waveguide layer, a first grating is used to diffract light of a specific wavelength from the waveguide into a desired diffraction order at a specific coupling angle.
- This allows a portion of the light to propagate out of the device, while another portion is diffracted into the intermediate dielectric layer in a conjugate diffraction order.
- A second grating, located in the first waveguide layer, then diffracts the second portion of the light into a second diffraction order, allowing it to propagate out of the device at the same coupling angle.
Potential applications of this technology:
- Optical communication systems: The device can be used to efficiently couple light between different waveguides, enabling the development of high-speed and high-bandwidth optical communication networks.
- Optical sensors: The device's ability to manipulate light propagation can be utilized in various sensing applications, such as biosensors or environmental monitoring systems.
- Integrated photonics: The compact and efficient nature of the device makes it suitable for integration into photonic integrated circuits, enabling the development of advanced optical devices and systems.
Problems solved by this technology:
- Efficient light coupling: The device provides a means to efficiently couple light between different waveguides, reducing losses and improving overall system performance.
- Compact design: The use of diffraction gratings allows for a compact design, making the device suitable for integration into small-scale optical systems.
- Precise control of light propagation: The device enables precise control over the direction and propagation of light, allowing for the development of advanced optical devices with specific functionalities.
Benefits of this technology:
- Improved performance: The efficient light coupling and precise control over light propagation offered by the device result in improved system performance, such as higher data transmission rates in optical communication systems.
- Compact and integrated design: The compact nature of the device allows for integration into small-scale optical systems, reducing the overall size and complexity of the system.
- Versatility: The device can be tailored to work with different wavelengths and coupling angles, making it versatile for various applications in photonics and optical systems.
Original Abstract Submitted
An optical coupling device includes a first waveguide layer, including a first semiconductor material, which is disposed over a dielectric substrate layer. A dielectric intermediate layer overlies the first waveguide layer. A second waveguide layer, which includes a different, second semiconductor material, is disposed over the dielectric intermediate layer and is patterned to define a waveguide. A first grating in the second waveguide layer diffracts light of a given wavelength from the waveguide into a specified diffraction order at a given coupling angle, whereby a first fraction of the light propagates out of the device while a second fraction of the light is diffracted into the intermediate dielectric layer in a conjugate diffraction order. A second grating in the first waveguide layer diffracts the second fraction of the light into a second diffraction order, propagating out of the device at the given coupling angle.
