Patent ID: 7127131

Claim:
An integrated optic polarization splitter comprising: an input waveguide element that is configured to input an optical signal having TE and TM components; a vertically oriented waveguide element having a height that is greater than its width, coupled to said input waveguide element, and configured to propagate said TM component of said optical signal, said vertically oriented waveguide element including a plurality of core layers; and a horizontally oriented waveguide element coupled to said input waveguide element, and configured to propagate said TE component of said optical signal, wherein (i) said vertically oriented waveguide element and said horizontally oriented waveguide element intersect or nearly intersect at an input end of the polarization splitter adjacent the input waveguide element, such that in use, no more than two guided modes exist at said input end, said two guided modes being limited to a fundamental TE mode and a fundamental TM mode, and (ii) said vertically oriented and horizontally oriented waveguides are separated at an end of the polarization splitter distal to the input waveguide element such that in use, the fundamental TE mode is substantially confined to said horizontally oriented waveguide element and the fundamental TM mode is substantially confined to the vertically oriented waveguide element at said distal end.