Patent ID: 6963118
Filing Date: 2005-11-08
Classification: B82Y,G02B,G02F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A hybrid active electronic and optical circuit integrated within a Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) wafer, the SOI wafer including an insulator layer and an upper silicon layer having a thickness of less than 3 μm, the hybrid active electronic and optical circuit comprising: a relatively narrow waveguide located within the upper silicon layer of the SOI wafer for supporting the propagation of light, said relatively narrow waveguide having a thickness of less than 3 μm; an active electronic circuit positioned proximate the relatively narrow waveguide, wherein a flow of light through the relatively narrow waveguide can be altered depending on a property of the active electronic circuit; a light deflector at least partially located in the upper silicon layer, the light deflector is configured to redirect light propagating within the upper silicon layer into a predetermined mode angle associated with the relatively narrow waveguide; and an evanescent coupling region at least partially located within the upper silicon layer, the evanescent coupling region including a gap region positioned in the plane of the upper silicon layer between the light deflector and the relatively narrow waveguide for optically coupling the redirected light propagating within the upper silicon layer into the relatively narrow waveguide, such that light redirected from the light deflector can pass via the evanescent coupling gap region to the relatively narrow waveguide at the predetermined mode angle.