Patent ID: 8542970
Filing Date: 2013-09-24
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A planar optical waveguide element comprising: a core of an optical waveguide comprising a first portion and a second portion, extending in a propagation direction of guided light, and a gap portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion in a width direction of the core, perpendicular to the propagation direction of guided light; and a first Bragg grating pattern and a second Bragg grating pattern provided on the core, wherein the gap portion has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the first portion and the second portion of the core; wherein a single mode is propagated in the optical waveguide so as to span across the first portion and the second portion of the core; wherein the first Bragg grating pattern and the second Bragg grating pattern are mutually parallel and extend in the propagation direction of guided light; wherein the first Bragg grating pattern comprises recessed and protruding portions that are formed on both outer side walls of the core along the propagation direction of guided light; wherein the second Bragg grating pattern comprises recessed and protruding portions that are formed, along the propagation direction of guided light, on both inner side walls of a groove that is formed on a top portion of the core at a center of the core in the width direction; and wherein the protruding portions of the first Bragg grating pattern where a core width is wide correspond with the protruding portions of the second Bragg grating pattern where a width of the groove is narrow, and the recessed portions of the first Bragg grating pattern where the core width is narrow correspond with the recessed portions of the second Bragg grating pattern where the width of the groove is wide.