Patent ID: 8090231

Claim:
An optical system, comprising: optical devices that each have a top side and a bottom side between lateral sides, a first one of the devices having one or more first waveguides immobilized on a first base, the first device having a first via that defines an optical path that extends from the top side of the first device to the bottom side of the first device, and a second one of the devices having a second waveguide immobilized on a second base, the second device including a second port optically aligned with the second waveguide and optically positioned between the second waveguide and the first via such that the light signal exchanged between the optical fiber and one of the second waveguides travels through the second port, the second port configured to change a direction in which the light signal travels from a first direction to a second direction; an optical fiber having a fiber facet immobilized relative to the first device and aligned with the first via, the first device being between the fiber facet and the second device, the first device, the second device and the optical fiber being arranged such that a light signal exchanged between the optical fiber and the second waveguide travels through the first via; and the second device including a wedge optically positioned between the second port and the first via such that that the light signal exchanged between the optical fiber and the second waveguide travels through the wedge, the wedge configured to change a direction that the light signal travels such that the light signal exits the second device traveling in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the second device, or the wedge configured to change a direction that the light signal travels such that when the light signal enters the second device traveling in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the second device the light signal enters the second waveguide traveling in a direction that is substantially parallel to a direction of propagation through the second waveguide at a facet of the second waveguide.