Patent ID: 7146080
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A planar lightwave circuit having an element secured thereon, the planar lightwave circuit comprising: a substrate; a trench cut in said substrate; at least one metal pad deposited on a top surface above said substrate, said at least one metal pad exhibiting a top surface removed from said substrate top surface; at least one of a waveguide defined in a layer deposited above said substrate and below said at least one metal pad and an optical fiber, said top surface of said at least one metal pad being parallel with a longitudinal axis of said at least one of a waveguide and an optical fiber; and an optical element placed within said trench and in optical communication with said at least one of a waveguide and an optical fiber, said optical element comprising at least one metal contact configured to be adjacent to said metal pad, said metal contact being connected to said metal pad by at least one of a solder ball and a conductive adhesive deposited on the metal pad top surface at a point where said top surface lies parallel with said longitudinal axis of said at least one of a waveguide and an optical fiber, wherein said at least one of a solder ball and a conductive adhesive deposited on the metal pad top surface supplies physical support to said optical element and electrical connection between said metal pad and said metal contact.