US 12,007,605 B2
Monolithically-integrated, polarization-independent circulator
Majid Sodagar, Albuquerque, NM (US); Wenyi Wang, Albuquerque, NM (US); Changyi Li, Albuquerque, NM (US); Guoliang Li, Albuquerque, NM (US); Murtaza Askari, Albuquerque, NM (US); Yi Wang, Albuquerque, NM (US); John Dallesasse, Geneva, IL (US); and Stephen B. Krasulick, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Assigned to Skorpios Technologies, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by Skorpios Technologies, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on May 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/314,991.
Application 16/239,811 is a division of application No. 15/246,925, filed on Aug. 25, 2016, granted, now 10,209,448, issued on Feb. 19, 2019.
Application 15/246,925 is a division of application No. 13/491,389, filed on Jun. 7, 2012, granted, now 9,453,965, issued on Sep. 27, 2016.
Application 17/314,991 is a continuation of application No. 15/656,331, filed on Jul. 21, 2017, granted, now 10,209,448.
Application 15/656,331 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/239,811, filed on Jan. 4, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/494,871, filed on Jun. 8, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0405294 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 6/27 (2006.01); G02B 6/122 (2006.01); G02F 1/09 (2006.01); G02B 6/12 (2006.01); G02B 6/126 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/2746 (2013.01) [G02B 6/1228 (2013.01); G02F 1/093 (2013.01); G02B 2006/1215 (2013.01); G02B 6/126 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device comprising:
a laser configured to emit light;
a first splitter comprising:
a first coupler configured to receive light from the laser at a first port and split light received at the first port into a first waveguide and a second waveguide;
a second coupler configured to:
receive light from the first waveguide and from the second waveguide; and
transmit light received from the first coupler by the first waveguide and
the second waveguide to propagate along a first path and along a second path;
the first waveguide; and
the second waveguide;
a second splitter configured to:
receive light from the first path and from the second path; and
combine light received from the first path and from the second path to exit a second port;
a first non-reciprocal polarization rotator in the first path between the first splitter and the second splitter;
a first reciprocal polarization rotator in the first path between the first splitter and the second splitter;
a second non-reciprocal polarization rotator in the second path between the first splitter and the second splitter;
a second reciprocal polarization rotator in the second path between the first splitter and the second splitter; and
a semiconductor substrate, wherein the laser, the first coupler, the second coupler, the first waveguide, the second waveguide, the second splitter, the first non-reciprocal polarization rotator, the first reciprocal polarization rotator, the second non-reciprocal polarization rotator, and the second reciprocal polarization rotator are integrated on the semiconductor substrate, wherein:
the first waveguide has a maximum cross-sectional width that is less than a maximum cross-sectional width of the second waveguide;
the maximum cross-sectional width of the first waveguide and the maximum cross-sectional width of the second waveguide are measured in a direction orthogonal to a direction of beam propagation and halfway between the first coupler and the second coupler; and
the maximum cross-sectional width of the first waveguide is less than a height of the first waveguide.