Patent ID: 9684191
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: G02B,G02F

Claim:
1. A method for forming a thermo-optic phase shifter device, comprising the steps of: patterning a plurality of optical waveguides in an SOI layer over a buried insulator; forming at least one heating element adjacent to the optical waveguides; and forming thermal bridges connecting at least one of the optical waveguides directly to the heating element, wherein the step of patterning the waveguides comprises the steps of: fully etching at least one first region of the SOI layer to form one or more of the optical waveguides; and partially etching at least one second region of the SOI layer to form trenches in the SOI layer and one or more of the optical waveguides in between the trenches, wherein based on the partial etching a portion of the SOI layer remains separating the trenches from the buried insulator, and wherein the portion of the SOI layer that remains separating the trenches from the buried insulator forms the thermal bridges, such that the thermal bridges connect only some of the optical waveguides directly to the heating element.