Patent ID: 7616856
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical module comprising: a substrate assembly including a photonic chip mounting region and a groove extending toward the photonic chip mounting region; and an optical coupler having a graded index of refraction disposed between the groove and the photonic chip mounting region, the optical coupler including: a plurality of alternating layers of a first material and a second material, each layer of the second material having a thickness substantially less than an effective wavelength of light in the second material, wherein at least one of the first and second materials is an amorphous material, the first material having a first index of refraction, the second material having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction, the plurality of alternating layers forming a light transmitting medium with an effective index of refraction in a local region that depends on a local ratio of a volume of the layers of the first material to a volume of the layers of the second material, wherein a graded effective index of refraction along a direction transverse to the layers is formed by varying the thicknesses of the layers.