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

Claim 0:
1. An optical coupler comprising:
a plurality of waveguide core layers formed from a waveguide core material having a first index of refraction, said waveguide core layers being (i) arranged in a stacked relationship one over another, (ii) spaced apart one from another and (iii) extending from a light receiving end of the optical coupler longitudinally through the optical coupler toward a 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 light propagating within outer ones of the plurality of waveguide core layers is directed toward an interior one of the plurality of waveguide core layers via evanescent coupling between adjacent ones of the plurality of waveguide core layers; and
wherein the plurality of waveguide core layers comprises:
a central waveguide core layer that extends from the light receiving end to the light output end of the optical coupler;
a pair of outermost waveguide core layers arranged on opposite sides of the central waveguide core layer; and
a pair of intermediate waveguide core layers arranged on opposite sides of the central waveguide core layer and interposed between the outermost waveguide core layers and the central waveguide core layer.