High precision photonic alignment device
Various embodiments provide alignment devices and methods of manufacturing and methods of using alignment devices. In an example embodiment, an alignment device includes a first substrate comprising inputs at respective input positions, outputs at respective output positions, and waveguides configured to provide optical paths from respective inputs to respective outputs. The respective input positions are fabricated in accordance with an input position array determined based on measured positions of optical fiber cores of optical fibers secured to a coupling element array. The coupling element array comprises a plurality of coupling elements having a respective one of the optical fibers secured therein. Each optical fiber is associated with a respective input and the input position array indicates the position of each respective input. The respective output positions are configured to provide respective optical signals to the respective target locations of the receiving device.
1 . A method for manufacturing an alignment device, the method comprising:
obtaining an input position array by measuring a position of a core of each of a plurality of optical fibers secured to respective coupling elements of a coupling element array, wherein, each of the plurality of optical fibers is associated with a respective input of a plurality of inputs of the alignment device such that the input position array indicates relative positions of the plurality of inputs of the alignment device;
obtaining an output position array based at least in part on a plurality of target locations of a receiving device;
determining one or more waveguide paths, each waveguide path configured to provide an optical path between one or more respective input positions of the input position array to one or more respective output positions of the output position array; and
fabricating, based on the input position array, the output position array, and the one or more waveguide paths, the alignment device, wherein the alignment device comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of inputs at respective input positions corresponding to the input position array, a plurality of outputs at respective output positions corresponding to the output position array, and one or more waveguides corresponding to the one or more waveguide paths.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein fabricating the alignment device comprises using a lithographic technique to form at least one of the plurality of inputs, the plurality of outputs, or the one or more waveguides.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the lithographic technique is one of an ebeam lithographic technique or a direct-write lithographic technique.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising aligning the alignment device with the coupling element array based at least in part on at least one array alignment element of the coupling element array and at least one device alignment element of the alignment device and securing the alignment device into position with respect to the coupling element array.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the output position array is determined based at least in part on a determination of the target locations of the receiving device.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the output position is determined based at least in part on one or more output properties associated with respective outputs of the plurality of outputs.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising fabricating or positioning one or more optical elements along at least one of the one or more waveguides and/or at least one output of the plurality of outputs.