Patent ID: 11971573
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 7:
8. A photonic device comprising:
a light source having a light emitting end from which light is emitted; and
an optical coupler having a light receiving end facing the light emitting end of the light source to receive light emitted therefrom, said optical coupler having a light output end opposite the light receiving end and including:
a plurality of waveguide core layers formed from a waveguide core material having a first index of refraction, said waveguide core layers being (i) stacked one over another, (ii) spaced apart one from another and (iii) extending from the light receiving end of the optical coupler longitudinally through the optical coupler toward the light output end of the optical coupler; and
a cladding formed from a cladding material having a second index of refraction, said second index of refraction being less than the first index of refraction, said cladding material surrounding each of the plurality of waveguide core layers;

wherein each of at least two of the waveguide core layers is a discontinuous waveguide core that is discontinuous along its longitudinal direction such that a second portion thereof is offset from a first portion thereof by a gap within which is disposed a portion of the cladding and
wherein the plurality of waveguide core layers comprises:
a central waveguide core layer;
a pair of outermost wavequide core layers arranged on opposite sides of the central waveguide core layer; and
a pair of intermediate wavequide core layers arranged on opposite sides of the central wavequide core layer and interposed between the outermost waveguide core layers and the central waveguide core layer; and

wherein the central wavequide core layer extends to the light output end of the optical coupler, while the pair of outermost waveguide core layers and the pair of intermediate wavequide core layers stop short of the light output end of the optical coupler.