Patent ID: 8494315

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a multilayered structure having a substrate layer, a first core layer, a first cladding layer, a second cladding layer, a second core layer, and a third cladding layer, wherein: the first cladding layer comprises a first material; and the second cladding layer has a wedge-like portion and comprises a second material different from the first material; a first optical waveguide having a first core and a first cladding, wherein: the first core comprises a portion of the first core layer; and the first cladding comprises a portion of the substrate layer and a portion of the first cladding layer; a second optical waveguide having a second core and a second cladding, wherein: the second core comprises a portion of the second core layer; and the second cladding comprises at least the wedge-like portion of the second cladding layer and a portion of the third cladding layer; an optical coupler optically coupling the first and second waveguides, wherein the optical coupler comprises a portion of the first cladding layer; and a waveguide grating being adapted to transfer optical power between one or more waveguide modes of the second waveguide and an optical beam formed by or applied to the waveguide grating, wherein the waveguide grating comprises a portion of the second core layer.