Optical interposers
Apparatuses, systems, and associated methods of manufacturing are described that provide an optical interposer and associated communication system. An example optical interposer includes a substrate having a first end that receives a first optical fiber welded thereto and a second end that receives a plurality of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) attached thereto. The interposer further includes an optical waveguide network defined by the substrate that provides optical communication between the first welded optical fiber and the plurality of PICs. The optical waveguide network also includes optical redistribution elements supported by the substrate. In an operational configuration, the optical interposer receives a first input optical signal from the first welded optical fiber, and the plurality of optical redistribution elements successively split the first input optical signal such that a plurality of output optical signals is directed to the plurality of PICs.
1 . An optical interposer comprising:
a substrate defining:
a first end configured to receive a first optical fiber welded thereto, and
a second end configured to receive a plurality of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) attached thereto;
an optical waveguide network defined by the substrate and configured to, in an operational configuration in which the first end receives the first welded optical fiber and the second end receives the plurality of PICs, provide optical communication between the first welded optical fiber and the plurality of PICs; and
a plurality of optical redistribution elements supported by the substrate and disposed within the optical waveguide network,
wherein, in the operational configuration, the optical interposer is configured to receive a first input optical signal from the first welded optical fiber, and the plurality of optical redistribution elements is configured to selectively and successively split the first input optical signal such that a plurality of output optical signals is directed to the plurality of PICs.
2 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the first end is configured to receive the first welded optical fiber in an in-plane configuration.
3 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the first end is configured to receive the first welded optical fiber welded to a top surface of the first end, such that the first welded optical fiber is positioned substantially perpendicular with respect to the substrate.
4 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , where the first end of the substrate is further configured to receive a second optical fiber welded thereto.
5 . The optical interposer according to claim 4 , wherein the optical waveguide network further comprises a directional coupler configured to receive the first optical input signal from the first welded optical fiber and a second optical input signal from the second welded optical fiber.
6 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate further defines one or more demultiplexing structures configured to, in an instance in which the first input optical signal comprises a multiplexed optical signal, demultiplex the multiplexed optical signal.
7 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide network further comprises one or more gain input elements configured to provide optical gain to the plurality of output optical signals.
8 . An optical communication system comprising:
a first optical fiber;
a plurality of photonic integrated circuits; and
an optical interposer comprising:
a substrate defining:
a first end configured to receive the first optical fiber welded thereto, and
a second end configured to receive the plurality of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) attached thereto;
an optical waveguide network defined by the substrate and configured to provide optical communication between the first welded optical fiber and the plurality of PICS; and
a plurality of optical redistribution elements supported by the substrate and disposed within the optical waveguide network,
wherein the optical interposer is configured to receive a first input optical signal from the first welded optical fiber, and the plurality of optical redistribution elements is configured to selectively and successively split the first input optical signal such that a plurality of output optical signals is directed to the plurality of PICs.
9 . The optical communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the first optical fiber is welded to the first end of the substrate in an in-plane configuration.
10 . The optical communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the first optical fiber is welded to the first end of the substrate in a vertical configuration such that the first welded optical fiber is positioned substantially perpendicular with respect to the substrate.
11 . The optical communication system according to claim 8 , further comprising a second optical fiber welded to the first end of the substrate.
12 . The optical communication system according to claim 11 , wherein the optical waveguide network further comprises a directional coupler configured to receive the first optical input signal from the first welded optical fiber and a second optical input signal from the second welded optical fiber.
13 . The optical communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the substrate further defines one or more demultiplexing structures configured to, in an instance in which the first input optical signal comprises a multiplexed optical signal, demultiplex the multiplexed optical signal.
14 . The optical communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the optical waveguide network further comprises one or more gain input elements configured to provide optical gain to the plurality of output optical signals.
15 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second end of the interposer is configured to overlap at least a portion of the plurality of PICs.
16 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the substrate opposite the top surface at the second end is configured to overlap at least a portion of the plurality of PICs.
17 . The optical interposer according to claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of alignment structures configured to provide optical communication between the optical waveguide network at the second end and the plurality of PICs.
18 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the substrate is further configured to receive a second welded optical fiber welded to the top surface of the first end of the substrate such that the first welded optical fiber is positioned substantially perpendicular with respect to the substrate.
19 . The optical interposer according to claim 18 , wherein the optical interposer is configured to receive a second input optical signal from the second welded optical fiber in an instance in which the first welded optical fiber fails.
20 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein a bandwidth for at least one of the plurality of output optical signals from the plurality of optical redistribution elements differs from a bandwidth of another of the plurality of output optical signals.
21 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical redistribution comprises power splitting structures.
22 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical redistribution elements directional optical couplers.
23 . The optical interposer according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical redistribution elements comprises multi-mode interference couplers.