Patent ID: 6493487
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical waveguide device comprising:a free space region having first and second arcuate end surfaces, a plurality of optical signal ports located on said first arcuate end surface for coupling to input waveguide sections, said arcuate first end surface having a radius of curvature originating on the arcuate second end surface; and said arcuate second end surface having a radius of curvature originating on the first arcuate end surface; a reflector surface; and an optical waveguide grating comprising tapered optical waveguide sections spaced apart from each other and extending radially from said second arcuate end surface of the free space region, each of the tapered optical waveguide sections having a wider end adjacent to the free space region and an opposite, narrower end; and an array of laterally spaced apart, optical grating waveguides extending between the narrower ends of the respective tapered optical waveguide sections and the reflector surface, each of the grating waveguides differing in length from a neighboring grating waveguide by a constant increment, and wherein said grating waveguides include intermediate curved portions having respective curvatures which increase progressively according to the sequential location of the grating waveguides from a reference grating waveguide in said array.