INTEGRATED OPTICS CHIP AND METHOD OF CONNECTING OPTICAL FIBER THERETO

摘要

An integrated optics chip eliminates problems caused by polarization cross coupling in fiber optic rotation sensors without requiring time consuming and expensive alignment of the axes of the optical fiber sensing coil and the optical waveguides formed in the integrated optics chip. A substrate formed of an optically active material has slots formed therein for mounting optical fibers to the substrate. An optical waveguide is formed in the integrated optics chip to guide optical signals along a selected axis of propagation such that an end wall of the slot includes an end surface of the optical waveguide The end surface of the optical waveguide is formed to make an angle with the direction of propagation of light in the optical waveguide to reduce the amount of light reflected at the end surface of the optical waveguide. The angle of the end of the optical waveguide is formed such that light reflected at the interface back into the optical fiber impinges on the core/cladding boundary at an angle that permits refraction from the core into the cladding. The angle of the end of the optical waveguide preferably is in the range of 5.degree. to 25.degree..