US 12,449,603 B2
Passively-aligned fiber array to waveguide configuration
Kalpendu Shastri, Orefield, PA (US); Anujit Shastri, Saratoga, CA (US); Soham Pathak, Allentown, PA (US); Bipin D. Dama, Bridgewater, NJ (US); Alan Leonhartsberger, Kempton, PA (US); Rutvij Dave, Allentown, PA (US); and Rao Yelamarty, Allentown, PA (US)
Assigned to AAYUNA, INC., Allentown, PA (US)
Filed by Aayuna Inc., Allentown, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/539,386.
Application 18/539,386 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/619,451, granted, now 11,886,013, previously published as PCT/US2020/037602, filed on Jun. 12, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/862,199, filed on Jun. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0210627 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. G02B 6/30 (2006.01); G02B 6/12 (2006.01); G02B 6/136 (2006.01); G02B 6/36 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/30 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3636 (2013.01); G02B 6/3692 (2013.01); G02B 6/4228 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12097 (2013.01); G02B 6/136 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An interconnection arrangement providing passive alignment between an array of N optical fibers and an array of N optical waveguides, the interconnection arrangement comprising:
a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) including
an optical substrate having a top planar major surface and adjoining planar side edge surfaces;
the array of N optical waveguides formed as an integrated element and disposed on the top planar major surface of the optical substrate, terminating at a selected adjoining planar side edge surface thereof, and
a plurality of M extra-array alignment ridges disposed on the top planar major surface of the optical substrate and terminating at the selected adjoining planar side edge surface thereof, the plurality of M extra-array alignment ridges positioned beyond the extent of the array of N optical waveguides, where each extra-array alignment ridge exhibits a defined height h; and
a fiber array substrate including
an array of N fiber-supporting V-grooves formed in a top surface thereof, and
a plurality of M extra-array alignment V-grooves disposed to engage with the plurality of M extra-array alignment ridges in a one-to-one relationship and provide passive alignment between the array of N optical waveguides and the array of N optical fibers, the fiber array substrate positioned over the top planar major surface of the PIC to overlap the plurality of M extra-array alignment ridges such that each extra-array alignment V-groove engages with its associated extra-array alignment ridge, with a pair of upper corners of each extra-array alignment ridge contacting inner sidewalls of the associated extra-array alignment V-groove at a location that creates alignment between a core region of an optical fiber supported within the associated V-groove and the optical waveguide integrated within the PIC so as to provide passive alignment between the array of N optical fibers and the array of N optical waveguides, with the alignment ridge height h selected to ensure that a gap spacing g remains between the top surface of the fiber array substrate and the top planar major surface of the PIC upon engagement of the plurality of M alignment V-grooves with the plurality of M extra-array alignment ridges.