Patent ID: 7929814

Claim:
An SOI-based optical arrangement for manipulating a propagating planar lightwave signal, the arrangement comprising a silicon substrate a dielectric layer disposed over the silicon substrate; and a single crystal silicon layer disposed over the dielectric layer, the single crystal silicon layer having a thickness of less than one micron (sub-micron) and being etched through in predetermined regions so as to expose the underlying dielectric layer, the refractive index difference between the remaining sub-micron single crystal silicon regions and the etched regions creating interfaces for forming substantially planar optical devices confining the propagating planar lightwave signal as a two-dimensional signal within the confines of the single crystal silicon layer and manipulating the properties of the propagating planar lightwave signal therein, wherein the single crystal silicon layer is etched to create at least one etched region including at least one optically smooth vertical sidewall having a curved surface that intercepts the planar lightwave signal propagating within the single crystal silicon layer, the interface between the remaining sub-micron single crystal silicon and the at least one vertical sidewall creating a planar, two-dimensional reflecting surface for re-directing the planar lightwave signal from propagating in a first direction to propagating in a second direction within the single crystal silicon layer.