US 12,135,455 B2
Photonic integrated circuit structure with coupler for interlayer waveguide coupling
Yusheng Bian, Ballston Lake, NY (US); and Kenneth J. Giewont, Hopewell Junction, NY (US)
Assigned to GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc., Malta, NY (US)
Filed by GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc., Malta, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/723,608.
Prior Publication US 2023/0333318 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/122 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/1225 (2013.01) [G02B 6/1228 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structure comprising:
a first waveguide core with a first end portion;
a second waveguide core with a second end portion overlaying and physically separated from the first end portion; and
a coupler,
wherein the first end portion, the coupler, and the second end portion are stacked vertically above a surface of a substrate,
wherein the coupler comprises: an array of photonic material elements arranged in columns and rows within cladding material,
wherein each photonic material element within the array is completely surrounded by the cladding material, and
wherein the array is between and physically separated from the first end portion and the second end portion by the cladding material.