LIGHT COUPLING STRUCTURE AND OPTICAL DEVICE INCLUDING A GRATING COUPLER

摘要

Light-coupling structure including a grating coupler that is configured to optically couple with an optical element. The grating coupler has a diffraction grating that extends parallel to a grating plane. The grating coupler is configured to diffract a light beam into first and second diffracted portions when the light beam is effectively normal to the grating plane. The first and second diffracted portions propagate away from each other. The light-coupling structure also includes first and second intermediate waveguides that are optically coupled to the grating coupler and configured to receive the first and second diffracted portions, respectively. The light-coupling structure also includes a common waveguide that is coupled to the first and second intermediate waveguides at a waveguide junction. The first and second diffracted portions propagate within the first and second intermediate waveguides, respectively, and are combined in-phase at the waveguide junction.

主权项

1. A light-coupling structure comprising:
a grating coupler configured to optically couple with an optical element, the grating coupler having a diffraction grating that extends parallel to a grating plane, the grating coupler configured to diffract a light beam into first and second diffracted portions when the light beam is directed from the optical element to the grating coupler and is effectively normal to the grating plane, the first and second diffracted portions propagating away from each other; first and second intermediate waveguides optically coupled to the grating coupler and configured to receive the first and second diffracted portions, respectively, from the grating coupler; and a common waveguide coupled to the first and second intermediate waveguides at a waveguide junction, wherein the first and second diffracted portions propagating within the first and second intermediate waveguides, respectively, are combined in-phase at the waveguide junction.