Patent ID: 11506838

Abstract:
A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) having a substrate in which vertically coupled photodetectors and in-line optical modulators are integrated to enable vertical coupling of light using a fiber assembly block (FAB), with the planar end surface thereof being attached to a substantially planar main surface of the substrate. In an example embodiment, the photodetectors are buried in deep vias formed in the substrate, and the in-line optical modulators are waveguide-connected to the corresponding vertical-coupling optical gratings. The photodetectors and optical gratings may be arranged in a linear array along the main surface of the substrate to enable uncomplicated optical alignment of end segments of the optical fibers in the FAB with the corresponding photodetectors and optical gratings for vertical coupling of light therebetween. In some embodiments, the FAB may have more than one hundred optical fibers. In some embodiments, the PIC can be implemented using the silicon photonics material platform.