Patent ID: 6915047

Claim:
An optical tap comprising: an input waveguide having a first width for receiving an optical signal; a tap waveguide having a second width and being coupled to said input waveguide in a junction region; an output waveguide having a third width and being coupled to said input waveguide in the junction region defined by the intersection of said input and tap waveguides; wherein said input waveguide, tap waveguide and output waveguide respectively have input, tap and output longitudinal, centrally disposed optical axes, said input and tap axes defining a first acute angle therebetween, said input and output axes defining a second acute angle therebetween; wherein a tapping ratio defined by a ratio of optical output power from said tap waveguide to optical output power from said output waveguide is determined at least in part by said first, second and third widths and said first and second angles, said first, second and third widths and said first and second angles having values selected to produce a specified tapping ratio; and at least one power transfer enhancing (PTE) waveguide having a fourth width and a PTE longitudinal, centrally disposed optical axis, said PTE waveguide being coupled to said input waveguide in said junction region, said PTE waveguide coupling therethrough substantially none of said optical signal, said PTE axis and said input axis defining a third acute angle therebetween.