Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A connector for use in coupling an optical signal between an optical fiber in an optical plug mounted to a bottom of a silicon photonics (SiPh) chip is provided. The connector comprises: a curved mirror; and a tilted flat mirror; wherein at least one of the curved mirror and the tilted flat mirror is formed on a hardened stamped imprint material that was deposited on the SiPh chip at least in a cavity thereof.

Abstract: A method comprising: stamping imprint material that was deposited on a silicon photonics (SiPh) chip and at least in a cavity thereof to form a curved mirror shape and a tilted flat mirror shape; coating at least a portion of each the curved mirror shape and the tilted flat mirror shape with a reflective material to form a first curved mirror and first tilted flat mirror; and mounting the SiPh chip in a flip-chip orientation to a substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detachably connecting at least one optical fiber of a detachable photonic plug to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The detachable photonic plug comprises: a detachable plug die; an optically transparent spacer coupled to the detachable plug die; and at least one optical fiber held between the detachable plug die and the spacer. On the PIC side, apparatus includes a receptacle adapted to receive a detachable photonic plug adapted to couple at least one optical fiber to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC); and a photonic bump of the PIC, the photonic bump having a least one fine alignment feature. The method comprises permanently mounting a receptacle over at least a portion of the PIC; after completion of mounting, inserting the detachable photonic plug into the receptacle; and after the detachable photonic plug is inserted in the receptacle, securing the detachable photonic plug in the receptacle.

Abstract: An electro-optical system, and method for making the electro-optical system. The electro-optical system includes a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) having a laser source located on the PIC, a fiberless optical coupler located on the PIC. The fiberless optical coupler is configured to be coupled to a fiber array. The electro-optical system also includes an optical element, and a mechanical aligner. The optical element is aligned with the fiber array, via the mechanical aligner, for a light from the laser source to transmit in between the fiber array and the PIC through the optical element, when the fiberless optical coupler is coupled to the fiber array.

Abstract: A wideband photonic bump (WBB), including: a positive taper of a polymer waveguide configured to further expand a light beam from an inverse taper to match a fiber optical mode of an optical fiber; a curved mirror formed on a surface of the WBB configured to reflect a light beam from the optical fiber; and a tilted flat mirror configured to direct the reflected light beam to an external optical fiber, wherein the WBB is coupled on the surface of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC).

Abstract: A wideband photonic bump (WBB), including: a positive taper of a polymer waveguide configured to further expand a light beam from an inverse taper to match a fiber optical mode of an optical fiber; a curved mirror formed on a surface of the WBB configured to reflect a light beam from the optical fiber; and a tilted flat mirror configured to direct the reflected light beam to an external optical fiber, wherein the WBB is coupled on the surface of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC).

Abstract: An optical mode coupler for mode coupling of waveguides. The optical mode coupler includes an oxide cladding layer, a waveguide channel formed on the oxide cladding layer, and a waveguide portion formed on the oxide cladding layer and partially enclosed by the waveguide channel on an end of the waveguide portion. The waveguide portion has a tapered region located on the end of the waveguide portion. The tapered region has a dual-plane tapering arrangement extending from the waveguide portion towards the waveguide channel for enhanced mode transformation efficiency.

Abstract: A wideband photonic bump (WBB), including: a positive taper of a polymer waveguide configured to further expand a light beam from an inverse taper to match a fiber optical mode of an optical fiber; a curved mirror formed on a surface of the WBB configured to reflect a light beam from the optical fiber; and a tilted flat mirror configured to direct the reflected light beam to an external optical fiber, wherein the WBB is coupled on the surface of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC).

Abstract: An electro-optical system, and method for making the electro-optical system. The electro-optical system includes a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) having a laser source located on the PIC, a fiberless optical coupler located on the PIC. The fiberless optical coupler is configured to be coupled to a fiber array. The electro-optical system also includes an optical element, and a mechanical aligner. The optical element is aligned with the fiber array, via the mechanical aligner, for a light from the laser source to transmit in between the fiber array and the PIC through the optical element, when the fiberless optical coupler is coupled to the fiber array.

Abstract: An electro-optical interconnection platform is provided. The platform includes an interface medium; a plurality of optical pads; a plurality of electrical pads; and at least one beam coupler adapted to optically couple at least one pair of optical pads of the plurality of optical pads, wherein the at least one pair of optical pads are placed on opposite sides of the interface medium.

Abstract: An optical connector for optical coupling a plurality of optical fibers to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprises a plurality of fiber trenches; a plurality of tiled flat mirrors; and a plurality of optical focusing elements; wherein each of the plurality of fiber trenches adjoins a corresponding titled flat mirror of the plurality of titled flat mirrors; and wherein each of the plurality of titled flat mirrors is placed in proximity to a corresponding optical focusing element of the plurality of optical focusing elements.

Abstract: A wideband photonic bump (WBB), including: a positive taper of a polymer waveguide configured to further expand a light beam from an inverse taper to match a fiber optical mode of an optical fiber; a curved mirror formed on a surface of the WBB configured to reflect a light beam from the optical fiber; and a tilted flat mirror configured to direct the reflected light beam to an external optical fiber, wherein the WBB is coupled on the surface of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC).

Abstract: An optical connector for optical coupling a plurality of optical fibers to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprises a plurality of fiber trenches; a plurality of tiled flat mirrors; and a plurality of optical focusing elements; wherein each of the plurality of fiber trenches adjoins a corresponding titled flat mirror of the plurality of titled flat mirrors; and wherein each of the plurality of titled flat mirrors is placed in proximity to a corresponding optical focusing element of the plurality of optical focusing elements.

Abstract: An electro-optical interconnection platform is provided. The platform includes an interface medium; a plurality of optical pads; a plurality of electrical pads; and at least one beam coupler adapted to optically couple at least one pair of optical pads of the plurality of optical pads, wherein the at least one pair of optical pads are placed on opposite sides of the interface medium.

Abstract: An optical coupler for coupling an optical fiber to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is presented. The optical coupler comprises a first curved mirror included in a first substrate layer of the PIC and at a first predefined lateral distance from an optical transceiver associated with the PIC; a second curved mirror included in a second substrate layer and placed at a second predefined lateral distance from the optical fiber; and a spacer located between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer.

Abstract: An optical coupler for coupling an optical fiber to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is presented. The optical coupler comprises a first curved mirror included in a first substrate layer of the PIC and at a first predefined lateral distance from an optical transceiver associated with the PIC; a second curved mirror included in a second substrate layer and placed at a second predefined lateral distance from the optical fiber; and a spacer located between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer.