Patent ID: 8971674
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. An optical device, comprising: a substrate; a continuous buried-oxide layer disposed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer, disposed on the buried-oxide layer, that includes a thermally tunable optical waveguide; wherein a portion of the substrate under the buried-oxide layer and substantially beneath a location of the thermally tunable optical waveguide is fabricated so that a portion of the buried-oxide layer is exposed, wherein the portion of the buried-oxide layer that is exposed is coupled to the substrate and the optical waveguide, and wherein at least a portion of the optical waveguide sits on the portion of the buried-oxide layer that is exposed; and a gap in the substrate corresponding to the portion of the substrate; wherein fabricating the portion of the substrate so that a portion of the buried-oxide layer is exposed comprises creating the gap in the substrate by removing the portion of the substrate, wherein the gap in the substrate defines at least two support structures comprising the substrate, wherein the support structures are on opposites sides of the gap, wherein the buried-oxide layer comprises a continuous layer that stretches over the at least two support structures and all of the gap without any breaks in the continuous layer, and wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a continuous layer that stretches over the at least two support structures and all of the gap without any breaks in the continuous layer.