Patent ID: 9588296
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: G02B

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor optical waveguide device, the method comprising: growing on a substrate a base waveguide comprising one of: i) a gradient index waveguide comprising a local refractive index depending on a growth parameter, wherein the growing comprises varying the growth parameter so as to gradually increase the local refractive index to a maximum value, and then to gradually decrease the local refractive index, whereby upon completion of the growing, the gradient index waveguide comprises a transversal bell-shaped refractive index profile defining an optical axis comprising the maximum value of the transversal bell-shaped refractive index profile; ii) a first step index waveguide comprising a first waveguide core comprising a first core thickness and a first refractive index; and iii) a second step index waveguide comprising a second waveguide core comprising a second core thickness and a second refractive index; forming a first recess in the base waveguide by removing a first portion thereof to a first depth; forming a different one of the gradient index waveguide, the first step index waveguide, and the second step index waveguide in the first recess; forming a second recess in at least one of the waveguides formed heretofore on the substrate, by removing a second portion thereof to a second depth; and forming the remaining one of the gradient index waveguide, the first step index waveguide, and the second step index waveguide in the second recess; wherein upon growing the gradient index waveguide and the first and second step index waveguides, an optical path is formed comprising in sequence the first waveguide core, the gradient index waveguide, and the second waveguide core.