US 12,487,407 B2
Compact light splitting devices and methods
Yi-Kuei Wu, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/851,252.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/248,236, filed on Sep. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0094833 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/28 (2006.01); G02B 6/12 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/28 (2013.01) [G02B 2006/1215 (2013.01); G02B 2006/12154 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light splitting device, comprising:
a first coupler that couples light over an operating bandwidth of wavelengths that spans at least 1 micron, comprising:
a first leg of the first coupler comprising a first input; and
a second leg of the first coupler optically coupled to the first leg of the first coupler;
a second coupler that couples light over the operating bandwidth of wavelengths, comprising:
a first leg of the second coupler comprising a first output; and
a second leg of the second coupler optically coupled to the first leg of the second coupler and comprising a second output; and
a fixed phase delay positioned between the first coupler and the second coupler, wherein:
the first and second couplers are tapered couplers;
the first coupler has a first splitting power relationship;
the second coupler has a second splitting power relationship;
the first coupler and the second coupler have complementary splitting power relationships over the operating bandwidth of wavelength; and
the light splitting device is configured to receive light within the operating bandwidth of wavelengths received at the first input and split the received light between the first output and the second output.