Patent ID: 6834145
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A 2 to n divider with integrated optics, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, including at least one 2 to 2 optical divider element in a substrate, said divider element comprising:a first and a second guide with widths equal to W1 and W2 respectively, said divider element adapted to divide an input light wave input into one of the first and second guides, into a first and second output wave, said first and second output wave transported by the first and second guides respectively; wherein said first and second guides each comprise at least three parts: a first part, of a first coupling type, wherein the first and second guides are progressively separated by smaller distance proceeding from input ends thereof, to a distance Dc that is not zero and is less than a threshold distance Ds, said distance Ds corresponding to the minimum distance starting from which the input light wave input into one of the first and second guides can be at least partly coupled into the other guide, a second part, of a second coupling type, with a coupling length Lc, along which said first and second guides are substantially parallel to each other and are distant from each other by the value Dc, and a third part, of the first coupling type, in which the first and second guides are progressively separated by a longer distance starting from the value Dc until they are separated by a value of more than Ds, wherein the values Dc, Lc, W1 and W2 are selected so as to obtain an achromatic divider element at divider operating wavelengths, and the values Dc and Lc are selected so that the first coupling type and the second coupling type vary inversely with said wavelengths.