Patent ID: 6934444

Claim:
An optical coupling arrangement for providing a signal path into and out of a silicon optical waveguide formed in a surface layer of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer comprising a silicon optical waveguide layer disposed over an insulator layer formed on a silicon substrate, the optical coupling arrangement comprising a silicon-based prism coupler disposed to intercept an incoming optical beam from a light source, said silicon-based prism coupler being permanently attached to said SOI wafer in a manner such that a first surface of said prism coupler is disposed substantially parallel to, and mated with, a flat surface of said SOI wafer, the refractive index of said silicon-based prism coupler equal to or greater than the refractive index of said silicon optical waveguide; free-space micro-optic input elements interposed between the light source and the silicon-based prism coupler, to collimate, shape and steer the optical beam to a specific entry point and angle of incidence upon the silicon-based prism coupler; an evanescent coupling region disposed between said silicon-based prism coupler and said silicon optical waveguide; and free-space micro-optic optic elements placed in the path of the beam that emerges from the output surface of the silicon-based prism coupler, to shape, collimate or focus the optical beam, and to steer the optical beam toward a receiving element.