초록 ▼

An efficient N×N star optical coupler suitable for mass production in integrated form is disclosed. The coupler can be realized using silicon technology to form a dielectric coupler slab and two arrays of strip waveguides all on a single glass substrate. Power transfer betwen the two arrays is accom

An efficient N×N star optical coupler suitable for mass production in integrated form is disclosed. The coupler can be realized using silicon technology to form a dielectric coupler slab and two arrays of strip waveguides all on a single glass substrate. Power transfer betwen the two arrays is accomplished through radiation in the dielectric slab with theoretical efficiency exceeding 30% under optimized conditions.

대표청구항 ▼

A device for simultaneously transmitting optical signals representative of intelligence from N sources to N′detectors, comprising (a) a medium capable of transmitting optical radiation with loss less than 1 db/cm; (b) an array of N injection means of aperture ai for injecting, into a substantially t

A device for simultaneously transmitting optical signals representative of intelligence from N sources to N′detectors, comprising (a) a medium capable of transmitting optical radiation with loss less than 1 db/cm; (b) an array of N injection means of aperture ai for injecting, into a substantially two dimensional plane within the said medium, optical radiation; and (c) an array of N′extraction means of aperture a′i, for extracting transmitted optical radiation from the said medium; the invention characterized in that (1) the injection and extraction means comprise single mode waveguides; (2) the array of N injection means are located along a segment of a circle with radius of curvature substantially equal to R, the length, L, of the segment given substantially by L=S3) the array of N′extraction means are located along a segment of a circle of radius of curvature substantially equal to R, the length, L′, of the segment given substantially by L′=S4) the center of curvature of the circle whose segment determines the configuration of each array lies substantially on the circle segment which defines the other array; (5) the axis of symmetry of each of the elements is substantially directed to the center of curvature of the circle whose segment defines that array; and (6) the distance R is selected to substantially maximize the transmission between marginal injection elements and marginal extraction elements.