Waveguide Coupling Device with Properties of Forward and Backward Coupling as well as Manufacturing Method Thereof
Claim Score by NHIP
Abstract
The present invention relates to a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling as well as a manufacturing method thereof, the waveguide coupling device comprises: a substrate, at least one inverted taper coupling structure, an intermediate layer, and at least one three-dimensional taper coupling structure. Wherein one end of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure is adopted for connecting to an external optical fiber, so as to couple the optical wave propagating in the optical fiber; Moreover, by way of the specific coupling sequence of (three-dimensional taper coupling structure)-(intermediate layer)-(inverted taper coupling structure), the optical wave may be efficiently coupled into, be confined in, and ultimately propagates in the inverted taper coupling structure connecting to waveguide devices. In addition, through the manufacturing method, the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling can be massively fabricated by the present semiconductor process with low cost.

Term
Projected expiry 23 January 2032.
- Priority
- Filed
- Published
- Today
- Projected expiry
18 claims: 2 independent, 16 dependent
- 1Broadest claimClaim Score 66, broad(NHIP)A waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling, comprising:a substrate;at least one inverted taper coupling structure, being formed on the substrate for confining and propagating an optical wave in the inside thereof;an intermediate layer, being formed on the substrate and covering the inverted taper coupling structure;and at least one three-dimensional taper coupling structure, being formed on the intermediate layer and used for connecting to an external fiber by one terminal thereof, so as to couple the optical wave transported by the fiber;wherein the refractive index of the intermediate layer is very close to the refractive index of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure, therefore, the optical wave would regard the intermediate layer and the three-dimensional taper coupling structure as the identical material when propagating in the three-dimensional taper coupling structure, such that the optical wave may be coupled into the inverted taper coupling structure through the intermediate layer.
- 11A manufacturing method for a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling, comprising the steps of:(1) fabricating a substrate;(2) forming an inverted taper coupling layer on the substrate;(3) making the inverted taper coupling structure to a lateral wedge-shaped structure by way of photolithography and etching;(4) forming an intermediate layer on the substrate and making the intermediate layer cover the inverted taper coupling structure;(5) forming a three-dimensional taper coupling layer on the intermediate layer;(6) fabricating a mold;(7) using the mold to imprint the three-dimensional taper coupling layer, and making the three-dimensional taper coupling layer become a vertical wedge shape;and (8) respectively making the lateral sides of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure to a wedge shape by way of photolithography.
Independent claims2
58 paragraphs in 4 sections, as filed
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
00011. Technical Field
0002The present invention relates to a waveguide coupling device, and more particularly, to a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling as well as a manufacturing method thereof, used for high efficient waveguide and fiber coupling. The forward coupling is defined by optical wave propagating from an external fiber to a waveguide whereas the backward coupling is defined by optical wave propagating from a waveguide to an external fiber.
00032. Description of Related Art
0004In recent years, since the advancement of network and information transmission, the transmission volume of data completed through Internet has been obviously increased; thus, the traditional data transmission way carried out by a coaxial cable is inadequate for high data throughput. However, compared with the coaxial cable, fibers have several advantages, such as high communication capacity, low signal loss, anti-electromagnetic interference, light weight, and small size; therefore, the fiber has been became the main component used in data transmission.
0005In addition to fibers, integrated photonic devices used for optical signal processing and high-speed electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical conversion also play an important role in the applications of optical interconnect. Integrated photonic devices include active and passive components, wherein the active component is referred to the device which can perform energy conversion, for example, an electro-optic modulator can carry out electro-optical conversion of generating optical signals. The passive component is referred to the device without energy conversion, for instance, waveguide couplers. A waveguide coupler is able to divert the optical power between a waveguide and another waveguide, or between a fiber and the waveguide.
0006Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, which illustrates a stereo view of a conventional optical waveguide device. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the optical waveguide device <b>25</b>′ includes: a substrate <b>252</b>′, a top layer <b>254</b>′ and a waveguide layer <b>256</b>′, wherein the optical wave is propagating in the waveguide layer <b>256</b>′. The optical waveguide device <b>25</b>′ shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a butt coupling device and the structure thereof is very simple. Traditionally, the waveguide layer <b>256</b>′ is rectangle structure, however, for connecting to the fiber, the waveguide layer <b>256</b>′ is made to circular structure when manufacturing the optical waveguide device <b>25</b>′. The aforesaid optical waveguide device <b>25</b>′ can be integrated to a miniaturized structure by using semiconductor materials and related semiconductor process, and that is the main advantage of the optical waveguide device <b>25</b>′. The main shortcoming of the optical waveguide device <b>25</b>′ is that the height (thickness) of the waveguide layer <b>256</b>′ can not be designed too high, so that, it is difficult for the optical waveguide device <b>25</b>′ to connect with the fiber (the diameter of fiber core is around 8 μm).
0007Besides, please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, which illustrates a stereo view of a conventional optical waveguide device with a surface grating. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′ with the surface grating includes: a substrate <b>2</b>′ and an optical waveguide <b>3</b>′. The optical waveguide <b>3</b>′ is formed on a base surface <b>21</b>′ of the substrate <b>2</b>′, and has a top surface <b>31</b>′, a first side surface <b>32</b>′ and a second side surface <b>33</b>′. Moreover, a surface grating <b>4</b>′ is consisted of a plurality of indentations <b>30</b>′ and formed on the first side surface <b>32</b>′, wherein the period of the surface grating <b>4</b>′ is determined by the spacing distance between the plurality of indentations <b>30</b>′. The aforesaid optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′ is a surface coupling device, which is able to couple the optical wave with a specific wavelength through the surface grating <b>4</b>′ thereof, for example, coupling the optical wave with the wavelength 1490 nm. Besides, the period of the surface grating <b>4</b>′ can be adjusted by changing the spacing distance between the indentations <b>30</b>′, so as to make the optical waveguide <b>3</b>′ couple and transmit the optical waves with different wavelengths via the surface grating <b>4</b>′.
0008The aforesaid optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′ has a main advantage, that is, the optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′ is capable of being changed the period of the periodic surface grating <b>4</b>′ thereof, such that the optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′may couple the optical wave with the specific wavelength. Moreover, to prevent from damage occurred in combining the surface grating <b>4</b>′ with the fiber, a protection layer is formed on the surface grating <b>4</b>′. However, the formed protection layer reduces the optical coupling efficiency of the optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′; besides, the surface grating <b>4</b>′ must achieve phase matching with the optical wave in period when using the optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′ to couple the optical wave, so that the operation of high-efficiency optical wave coupling can be accomplished. However, such limitation (phase matching) reduces the whole coupling efficiency of the optical waveguide device <b>1</b>′ for broadband optical wave.
0009Accordingly, in view of the optical waveguide device (i.e., the butt coupling device with simple structure) and the optical waveguide device with the surface grating (i.e., the surface coupling device capable of coupling the optical wave with the particular wavelength) still have shortcomings and drawbacks, the inventor of the present application has made great efforts to make inventive research thereon and eventually provided a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling as well as a manufacturing method thereof.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
0010The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling, in which, at least one three-dimensional taper coupling structure and at least one inverted taper coupling structure are formed, and the three-dimensional taper coupling structure is adopted for connecting to an external optical fiber, so that an optical wave propagating in the optical fiber can be coupled into the intermediate layer efficiently, and then the optical wave can be further coupled to waveguide through the inverted taper coupling structure.
0011Accordingly, to achieve the abovementioned primary objective of the present invention, the inventor proposes a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling, comprising:
0012a substrate;
0013at least one inverted taper coupling structure, being formed on the substrate for confining and propagating an optical wave in the inside thereof;
0014an intermediate layer, being formed on the substrate and covering the inverted taper coupling structure; and
0015at least one three-dimensional taper coupling structure, being formed on the intermediate layer and used for connecting to an external fiber by one terminal thereof, so as to couple the optical wave transported by the fiber;
0016wherein the refractive index of the intermediate layer is very close to that of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure, therefore, the optical wave would regard the intermediate layer and the three-dimensional taper coupling structure as the identical material when propagating in the three-dimensional taper coupling structure, such that the optical wave may be coupled into the inverted taper coupling structure through the intermediate layer.
0017Another objective of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method for a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling, therefore, through the manufacturing method, the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling can be massively fabricated by the present semiconductor process with low cost and high reliability.
0018Thus, to achieve the abovementioned another objective of the present invention, the inventor proposes a manufacturing method for a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling, comprising the steps of: (1) fabricating a substrate; (2) forming a inverted taper coupling structure on the substrate; (3) making the inverted taper coupling structure to a lateral wedge-shaped structure by way of photolithography and etching; (4) forming a intermediate layer on the substrate and making the intermediate layer cover the inverted taper coupling structure; (5) coating a photographic material on the intermediate layer; (6) fabricating a mold; (7) using the mold to imprint the photographic material, and making the layer become a vertical wedge structure; and (8) respectively making the lateral sides of the structure to a wedge shape by way of photolithography.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
0019The invention as well as a preferred mode of use and advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a stereo view of a conventional optical waveguide device;
0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a stereo view of a conventional optical waveguide device with a surface grating;
0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a side view of a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling according to the present invention;
0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a stereo view of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling according to the present invention;
0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a second side view of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling according to the present invention;
0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a flow chart of a manufacturing method for a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling according to the present invention;
0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a side view of a substrate and a coupling layer of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling;
0027<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a second side view of the substrate and the inverted taper coupling structure of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling;
0028<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a side view of the substrate, the inverted taper coupling structure, an intermediate layer, and a photographic layer of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling;
0029<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a schematic diagram for using a mold to make the photographic layer become a vertical wedge structure;
0030<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is a detailed flow chart of step (<b>603</b>);
0031<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a schematic diagram for exposing the photographic layer by using a first mask;
0032<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is a stereo view of the substrate and the inverted taper coupling structure of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling;
0033<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is a detailed flow chart of step (<b>606</b>);
0034<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is a side view of a mold substrate and a second photographic material;
0035<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is a second side view of the mold substrate and the second photographic material after oblique impress;
0036<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 17</figref> is a side view of the mold substrate, the second impressed photographic material and a covering polymer; and
0037<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 18</figref> is a side view of the covering polymer (a vertical tapered mold) after de-molding.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
0038To further describe a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling as well as a manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings hereinafter.
0039Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>; there are shown a side view and a stereo view of a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling according to the present invention; moreover, please simultaneously refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, which illustrates a second side view of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> with coupling properties of forward and backward includes: a substrate <b>11</b>, an inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b>, an intermediate layer <b>13</b>, and a three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b>, wherein the substrate <b>11</b> can be a semiconductor substrate, a compound semiconductor substrate and a glass substrate, and preferably, in the embodiment of the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> with coupling properties of forward and backward, the substrate <b>11</b> is a compound semiconductor substrate consisting of a silicon layer and a insulator layer, i.e., the substrate <b>11</b> is an SOI substrate.
0040The inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b> is formed on the substrate <b>11</b>, used for confining and propagating an optical wave <b>3</b> in the inside thereof. The manufacturing material of the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b> can be silicon (Si), silicon nitride (SiN), silicon oxinitride (SiON), and silicon carbine (SiC), and preferably, in the embodiment of the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b>, silicon (Si) is used for manufacturing the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b>.
0041As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the intermediate layer <b>13</b> is formed on the substrate and covering the inverted taper coupling structure. Similar to the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b>, the manufacturing material of the intermediate layer <b>13</b> can be a semiconductor material or a compound semiconductor material, and preferably, in the present invention, it uses the SiON to manufacturing the intermediate layer <b>13</b>. The three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> is a photographic material with material code SU-8, which is formed on the intermediate layer <b>13</b>. Moreover, the height of one end of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> is adequate for connecting with an external fiber <b>2</b>, so as to couple the optical wave <b>3</b> transported by the fiber <b>2</b>.
0042Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> again, when the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> is connected to the fiber <b>2</b>, the optical wave <b>3</b> is coupled into the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b>, at the meantime, because the refractive index n<sub>m </sub>of the intermediate layer <b>13</b> is very close to the refractive index n<sub>cd </sub>of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b>, the optical wave <b>3</b> would regard the intermediate layer <b>13</b> and the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> as the identical material when propagating in the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b>, such that the optical wave <b>3</b> may be losslessly coupled into the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b> through the intermediate layer <b>13</b>. Moreover, since the refractive index n<sub>ctd </sub>of inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b> is greater than the refractive index n<sub>m </sub>of the intermediate layer <b>13</b>, the refractive index n<sub>cd </sub>of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> is greater than the refractive index n<sub>air </sub>of the air, and the refractive index n<sub>sub </sub>of the substrate <b>11</b> is greater than the refractive index n<sub>air </sub>of the air, the optical wave <b>3</b> coupled into the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b> can be confined and propagates in the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b>, such that the optical leakage is effectively prevented.
0043Moreover, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> shows a slanting surface <b>141</b>. In the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> with coupling properties of forward and backward of the present invention, if the surface slope of the slanting surface <b>141</b> is getting higher, the optical coupling efficiency of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> to the optical wave <b>3</b> may be also relatively increased. Besides, according to the experimental result, it could be found that the optical coupling efficiency of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> is greater than 90% when the included angle between the slanting surface <b>141</b> and the surface of the media layer <b>13</b> is smaller than 0.67 degree. Moreover, in the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> with coupling properties of forward and backward of the present invention, the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b> is manufactured to a lateral wedge-shaped structure for making the optical wave <b>3</b> be confined in the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b>.
0044Therefore, through above descriptions, it knows that the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> is a waveguide coupling device with high efficiency. Furthermore, in addition to the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> with coupling properties of forward and backward, the present invention also provides a manufacturing method for the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling, so that the above-mentioned waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> can be massively fabricated by the present semiconductor process. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, which illustrates a flow chart of the manufacturing method for the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling according to the present invention. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, the manufacturing method includes the steps as follows:
0045Firstly, executing step (<b>601</b>), fabricating a substrate <b>11</b>. Then the flow is proceeded to step (<b>602</b>), forming an inverted taper coupling layer <b>12</b> on the substrate <b>11</b>. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, which illustrates a side view of the substrate and the inverted taper coupling layer of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, after the step (<b>602</b>) is finished, the inverted taper coupling layer <b>12</b> has been formed on the substrate <b>11</b>. The flow continuously proceeds to step (<b>603</b>), making the inverted taper coupling layer <b>12</b> to a lateral wedge-shaped structure by way of photolithography and etching. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, which illustrates a second side view of the substrate and the inverted taper coupling structure. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, for making the optical wave be confined and propagate in the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b>, the inverted taper coupling layer <b>12</b> is manufactured to the lateral wedge-shaped structure.
0046After the step (<b>603</b>) is completed, next, the flow is proceeded to step (<b>604</b>), forming an intermediate layer <b>13</b> on the substrate <b>11</b> and making the intermediate layer <b>13</b> covering the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b>; Then, continuously proceeding to step (<b>605</b>), forming a photographic layer <b>14</b> on the media layer <b>13</b>. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, which illustrates a side view of the substrate, the inverted taper coupling structure, the intermediate layer, and the photographic layer of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, the intermediate layer <b>13</b> is formed on the substrate <b>11</b> by using the technology of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), moreover, when using the PECVD, an N2 gas, an N2O gas, an SiH4 gas, and an NH3 gas are flowed for being the reactive gases, and then the SiON layer with the refraction coefficient 1.56 has been formed on the substrate <b>11</b> and is used as the intermediate layer <b>13</b>. Besides, the photographic layer <b>14</b> is a photographic material with the material code SU-8.
0047Moreover, please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, there is shown a schematic diagram for using a mold to make the photographic layer become a vertical wedge structure. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, after the step (<b>605</b>) is finished, the flow is proceeded to step (<b>606</b>) and step (<b>607</b>), fabricating a mold <b>4</b> and using the mold <b>4</b> to press the photographic layer <b>14</b>, so as to make the photographic layer <b>14</b> become a vertical wedge structure. Finally, the flow is proceeded to step (<b>608</b>), respectively making the lateral sides of the photographic layer <b>14</b> to a wedged shape by way of photolithography. Therefore, the three-dimensional taper coupling structure <b>14</b> and the waveguide coupling device <b>1</b> with coupling properties of forward and backward shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> has been carried out through the step (<b>601</b>)˜the step (<b>608</b>).
0048In addition, for further introducing the manufacturing method provided in the present invention, please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, which illustrates a detailed flow chart of the step (<b>603</b>). The step (<b>603</b>) is a process flow for making the inverted taper coupling layer <b>12</b> to the lateral wedge-shaped structure, in which, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, the step (<b>603</b>) further includes the detailed steps as follows:
0049Firstly, executing step (<b>6031</b>), forming a first photoresistor PR<b>1</b> on the inverted taper coupling layer <b>12</b>, and then executing step (<b>6032</b>), defining the pattern of the first photoresist PR<b>1</b> by using photolithography. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref>, there is shown a schematic diagram for exposing the first photoresistor by using a first mask. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref>, a first mask <b>5</b> having a wedged pattern <b>51</b> is used for exposing the first photoresist PRI, such that the wedged pattern <b>51</b> is transferred onto the first photoresist PR<b>1</b> after the exposure is finished. Furthermore, through the development, the first photoresistor PR<b>1</b> is developed to the lateral wedge-shaped structure.
0050After the step (<b>6032</b>) is completed, the flow is proceeded to step (<b>6033</b>), using the first photoresistor PR<b>1</b> as a barrier layer and etching the inverted taper coupling layer <b>12</b>; Finally, executing step (<b>6034</b>), removing the first photoresistor PR<b>1</b>. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>, which illustrate a stereo view of the substrate and the inverted taper coupling structure. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>, the inverted taper coupling structure <b>12</b> with a lateral wedge-shaped structure has been formed on the substrate <b>11</b>.
0051Moreover, please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>, which illustrates a detailed flow chart of step (<b>606</b>). The step (<b>606</b>) is a process flow for fabricating the mold <b>4</b>, in which, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>, the step (<b>606</b>) further includes the detailed steps as follows:
0052Firstly, executing step (<b>6061</b>), fabricating a mold substrate <b>41</b>, wherein the mold substrate <b>41</b> can be a semiconductor substrate, a compound semiconductor substrate or a glass substrate; in this manufacturing method, it uses the silicon (Si) substrate as the mold substrate <b>41</b>. Continuously, the flow is proceeded to step (<b>6062</b>), coating a second photographic material PR<b>2</b> on the mold substrate <b>41</b>. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, which illustrates a side view of the mold substrate and the second photographic material. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, after the step (<b>6062</b>) is completed, the second photographic material PR<b>2</b> has been coated on the mold substrate <b>41</b>.
0053The flow next proceeds to step (<b>6063</b>), pressing the second photographic material PR<b>2</b>, and making the second photographic material PR<b>2</b> show a particular angle. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, which illustrates a second side view of the mold substrate and the second photographic material. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, after using a board to impress the second photographic material PR<b>2</b>, the second photographic material PR<b>2</b> shows the particular angle on the mold substrate <b>41</b>. So that, after the step (<b>6063</b>) is finished, the flow is proceeded to step (<b>6064</b>), making the second photographic material PR<b>2</b> to a vertical wedge structure <b>42</b> by way of photolithography. Herein, it needs to explain that, the purpose of exposing the second photographic material PR<b>2</b> is to transfer the wedged pattern onto the second photographic material PR<b>2</b>, so that, when developing the second photographic material PR<b>2</b>, it can make the second photographic material PR<b>2</b> become the vertical wedge structure <b>42</b> for getting the best optical coupling efficiency.
0054The flow next proceeds to step (<b>6065</b>), filling a polymer <b>43</b> onto the mold substrate <b>41</b>. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 17</figref>, which illustrates a side view of the mold substrate, the second photographic material and the polymer. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 17</figref>, after the polymer <b>43</b> us filled onto the mold substrate <b>41</b>, the polymer <b>43</b> would solidify slowly. Therefore, after the step (<b>6065</b>) is completed, the flow is proceeded to step (<b>6066</b>), standing the polymer <b>43</b> for a period of time; and finally, executing step (<b>6067</b>), removing the polymer <b>43</b> from the mold substrate <b>41</b>. Please refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 18</figref>, which illustrate the side view of the mold. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, the solidified polymer <b>43</b> forms the mold <b>4</b>.
0055Thus, through the above descriptions, the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling as well as a manufacturing method thereof of the present invention have been disclosed completely and clearly, in summary, the present invention has the following advantages:
00561. The structure of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling provided by the present invention is very simple, and the three-dimensional taper coupling structure thereof is able to be connected with a fiber.
00572. The optical coupling efficiency of the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling provided by the present invention is very high, in which, by way of selecting the proper refraction coefficients of the inverted taper coupling structure, the intermediate layer and the three-dimensional taper coupling structure, the optical wave can be efficiently coupled into the inverted taper coupling structure through the coupling sequence of (three-dimensional taper coupling structure)-(intermediate layer)-(inverted taper coupling structure), and then the optical wave is confined and propagates in the inverted taper coupling structure connecting to waveguide devices. <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li id="ul0001-0001" num="0000"><ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li id="ul0002-0001" num="0058">3.Inheriting to above point <b>2</b>, by way of the high efficient coupling of (three-dimensional taper coupling structure)-(intermediate layer)-(inverted taper coupling structure), the working optical wavelength can be applied for a whole optical communication band.</li><li id="ul0002-0002" num="0059">4. Through the manufacturing method provided in the present invention, the waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling can be massively fabricated by the present semiconductor process with low cost, and it not needs to using any other particular equipments when executing the processes.</li></ul></li></ul>
0060The above description is made on embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit scope of the present invention, and all equivalent implementations or alterations within the spirit of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.
Contents4
17 sheets
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| US10042120B2 | Cited by | United States of America | Applicant |
| US2012328243A1 | Cited by | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US2005185893A1 | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US2009245728A1 | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US2011116741A1 | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US2012006382A1 | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US2012093456A1 | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US2012230635A1 | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US5799119A | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
| US6993225B2 | Cites | United States of America | Pre-grant |
4 members in 2 offices
Priority claims5
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 099141766 | Taiwan Province of China | – | |
| 99141766 | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| 99141766 | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| 099141766 | – | – | – |
| TW20100141766 | – | – | – |
Members4
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2012141069A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| TW201224549A | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| US8447152B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| TWI425265B | Taiwan Province of China | B |
27 transactions on the USPTO file
Allowed without a rejection on record.
- Non-final rejections
- 0
- Final rejections
- 0
- RCEs
- 0
- Appeals
- 0
Over time
Point at a mark for the transactionTransactions
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Recordation of Patent Grant MailedPGM/ | PGM/ | |
| Patent Issue Date Used in PTA CalculationAllowedPTAC | PTAC | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTR | EML_NTR | |
| Issue Notification MailedAllowedWPIR | WPIR | |
| Dispatch to FDCD1935 | D1935 | |
| Application Is Considered Ready for IssuePILS | PILS | |
| Issue Fee Payment VerifiedN084 | N084 | |
| Issue Fee Payment ReceivedIFEE | IFEE | |
| Electronic ReviewELC_RVW | ELC_RVW | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTF | EML_NTF | |
| Mail Notice of AllowanceAllowedMN/=. | MN/=. | |
| Notice of Allowance Data Verification CompletedAllowedN/=. | N/=. | |
| Reasons for AllowanceEX.R | EX.R | |
| Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK | DOCK | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTR | EML_NTR | |
| PG-Pub Issue NotificationPG-ISSUE | PG-ISSUE | |
| Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK | DOCK | |
| Request for Foreign Priority (Priority Papers May Be Included)RQPR | RQPR | |
| Preliminary AmendmentA.PE | A.PE | |
| Application Dispatched from OIPEOIPE | OIPE | |
| Application Is Now CompleteCOMP | COMP | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTR | EML_NTR | |
| Filing ReceiptFLRCPT.O | FLRCPT.O | |
| Sent to Classification ContractorPGPC | PGPC | |
| Cleared by OIPE CSRL194 | L194 | |
| IFW Scan & PACR Auto Security ReviewSCAN | SCAN | |
| Initial Exam Team nnIEXX | IEXX |
7 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance feeLapsedFP | FP | |
| Lapse for failure to pay maintenance feesLapsedPATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITYLAPS | LAPS | |
| Information on status: patent discontinuationPATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362STCH | STCH | |
| Fee payment procedureMAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITYFEPP | FEPP | |
| Fee paymentFPAY | FPAY | |
| Information on status: patent grantGrantedPATENTED CASESTCF | STCF | |
| AssignmentAS | AS |
Numbers
- Publication
- 20120141069
- Publication, DOCDB
- 2012141069
- Publication, EPODOC
- US2012141069
- Application
- 13207305
- Application, DOCDB
- 201113207305
- Application, EPODOC
- US201113207305
Titles
- English
- Waveguide Coupling Device with Properties of Forward and Backward Coupling as well as Manufacturing Method Thereof
Classification
- CPC, 3
- G02B6/1228
- G02B6/138
- G02B6/305
- IPC, 2
- G02B6 26
- G02B6 10
- USPC, 2
- 385043000
- 427163200