Optical coupling
Apparatuses, systems and methods for optical coupling, optical integration, electro-optical coupling, and electro-optical packaging are described herein. Optical couplers may comprise various optical elements (e.g., mirrors as described herein) to relax optical assembly requirements and improve producibility. Optical couplers may improve fiber-to-chip, fiber-to-fiber and chip-to-chip optical connection. Optical couplers and optical components may be used to improve integration of, connection of, and/or packaging of optical systems and/or components with electrical systems and/or components.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a first optical focusing element of an optical coupler, the first optical focusing element configured to:
interface an optical beam with an optical waveguide; and
perform a first transformation on the optical beam;
a second optical focusing element configured to:
interface the optical beam with the first optical focusing element; and
to perform a second transformation on the optical beam; and
an optical reflecting element configured to relay the optical beam between the second optical focusing element and an optical transceiver component of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC).
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical reflecting element comprises a substantially flat minor, and wherein the substantially flat mirror is oriented to couple the optical beam between the second optical focusing element and the optical transceiver component.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first transformation comprises:
a substantial collimation of the optical beam by the first optical focusing element.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first transformation comprises:
a focusing of the optical beam by the first optical focusing element.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second transformation comprises:
a substantial collimation of the optical beam by the second optical focusing element.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second transformation comprises:
focusing of the optical beam by the second optical focusing element.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second optical focusing element is disposed in proximity to the optical transceiver component, the second optical focusing element being configured to facilitate optical surface coupling, of the optical waveguide, to the PIC.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first optical focusing element and the second optical focusing element each individually comprises one or more of:
a curved mirror; or
a focusing lens.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical beam expands between the optical waveguide and the first optical focusing element,
and wherein the first optical focusing element is distanced from the optical waveguide to facilitate a predefined beam expansion.
10 . A method comprising:
disposing, in an optical coupler, a first optical focusing element, the first optical focusing element configured to:
receive, from an optical waveguide, an expanding optical beam; and
first transform the expanding optical beam;
disposing, in the optical coupler, a second optical focusing element, the second optical focusing element configured to:
receive the first transformed optical beam; and
second transform the received first transformed optical beam; and
disposing, in the optical coupler, an optical directing component configured to:
relay the optical beam between the second optical focusing element and an optical transceiver component of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC).
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the relaying further comprises:
directing, by a substantially flat mirror, the second transformed optical beam from the second optical focusing element toward the optical transceiver component.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
disposing, in the optical coupler, a second optical directing component configured to:
receive the expanding optical beam; and
direct, the expanding optical beam toward the first optical focusing element.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first transforming comprises:
substantially collimating the optical beam.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second transforming comprises:
focusing the optical beam.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second optical focusing element is further configured to:
facilitate optical surface coupling of the optical waveguide to the PIC.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first optical focusing element is further configured to provide a predefined distance of a beam path between the optical waveguide and the first optical focusing element to facilitate a predefined optical beam expansion.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first optical focusing element and the second optical focusing element each individually comprise one or more of:
a curved mirror; or
a focusing lens.
18 . An apparatus comprising:
an optical transceiver component of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC); and
an optical focusing element disposed in proximity to the optical transceiver component, the optical focusing element configured to facilitate optical surface coupling, of an optical waveguide, to the PIC,
wherein, the optical focusing element is configured to perform a transformation of an optical beam being optically coupled between the optical transceiver component and the optical waveguide.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the transformation of the optical beam comprises a substantial collimation of the optical beam by the optical focusing element.
20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the transformation of the optical beam comprises focusing of the optical beam by the optical focusing element.
21 . The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
a second optical focusing element, wherein the second optical focusing element is configured to:
interface the optical beam with the optical focusing element; and
to perform a second transformation of the optical beam.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the second transformation comprises one or more of:
a substantial collimation of the optical beam; or
focusing the optical beam.
23 . The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising a beam deflecting element configured to relay the optical beam between the optical transceiver component and the second optical focusing element.
24 . The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising:
a beam deflection element configured to relay the optical beam between the optical transceiver component and the optical focusing element.
25 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the optical focusing element comprises one or more of:
a curved mirror; or
a focusing lens.
26 . A method comprising:
disposing, in an optical coupler and in proximity to an optical transceiver component of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), an optical focusing element, wherein the optical focusing element is configured to make available an optical beam for optical surface coupling, of an optical waveguide, to the PIC by:
transforming the optical beam; and
relaying the optical beam.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the disposing, in the optical coupler and in proximity to the optical transceiver component, the optical focusing element, further comprises:
disposing, adjacent to a surface of the PIC, the optical focusing element.
28 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising:
disposing, in the optical coupler a second optical focusing element, the second optical focusing element configured to:
interface the optical beam with the optical focusing element; and
second transforming the optical beam.
29 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising:
disposing, in the optical coupler, an optical beam deflecting element, the optical beam deflecting element configured to:
relay the optical beam between the optical waveguide and the optical focusing element.
30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the optical focusing element comprises one or more of:
a curved mirror; or
a focusing lens.