Patent ID: 11921298
Assignee: II-VI DELAWARE, INC.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A spot-size converter, comprising:
a first waveguide structure comprising indium phosphide, the first waveguide structure extending longitudinally along a waveguide axis from a first end to a second end, the first waveguide structure configured to support a first optical mode at the first end; and
a second waveguide structure formed within the first waveguide structure, wherein:
the second waveguide structure extends longitudinally between the first end and the second end;
the second waveguide structure is configured to support a second optical mode at the second end;
the second optical mode has a different diameter than the first optical mode;
the second waveguide structure includes a waveguide core that has a first cross-sectional area in a first plane normal to the waveguide axis at the first end and is continuous to a second cross-sectional area in a second plane normal to the waveguide axis at the second end; and
the second cross-sectional area is larger than the first cross-sectional area,
wherein the first waveguide structure comprises cladding that surrounds the waveguide core of the second waveguide structure, the cladding having a first surface clad by air, wherein the first surface is spaced apart from and faces a substrate on which the spot-size converter is formed.