Patent ID: 7164824

Claim:
An optical device, comprising a first waveguide optically coupled to a second waveguide by a first reflective surface, wherein: each waveguide comprises a core region and a cladding region formed on a substrate, wherein the first reflective surface is a side of a first trench adjacent to the core regions of the first and second waveguides, wherein the side is covered with a reflective coating; the first and second waveguides are oriented with respect to one another at an angle other than 180 degrees; the first reflective surface has a substantially parabolic shape that has no plane of symmetry orthogonal to the substrate plane; the first reflective surface is adapted to direct light from the first waveguide to the second waveguide; the device further comprises a third waveguide optically coupled to the second waveguide by a second reflective surface, wherein: the second reflective surface is a side of a second trench adjacent to the core regions of the second and third waveguides; the second and third waveguides are oriented with respect to one another at an angle other than 180 degrees; the second reflective surface is adapted to direct light from the second waveguide to the third waveguide; the second reflective surface has a substantially parabolic shape; and a focal point defined by the parabolic shape of the first reflective surface substantially coincides with a focal point defined by the parabolic shape of the second reflective surface.