Abstract: A multiplexer/demultiplexer is provided for optical interconnection between electronic components on an integrated circuit chip. The multiplexer/demultiplexer includes a substrate formed with an array of photo emitters/detectors and conditioning electronics coupled thereto. A first layer of optically transparent material is formed on the substrate overlying the emitters/detectors and a second layer of optically transparent material, functioning as an optical waveguide, is formed on the first layer. A binary blazed grating is formed at the interface of the two layers. For multiplexing, discrete wavelength optical signals are modulated with data, emitted by the emitters, intercepted by the binary blazed grating, and multiplexed into a polychromatic beam for transmission through the waveguide. For demultiplexing, the discrete wavelengths are separated by the binary blazed grating and directed to corresponding detectors.

Abstract: An integrated optical multiplexer and/or demultiplexer is provided for on-chip optical interconnection between electronic components on an integrated circuit chip and between chips, and for high density telecommunications. The multiplexer and/or demultiplexer includes an integrated circuit substrate formed with an array of photo detectors (for the demultiplexer) or photo emitters (for the multiplexer). Conditioning electronics is formed on the substrate and is coupled to the photo elements for conditioning electronic data for optical transmission in the case of the multiplexer or for conditioning optical signals into electronic data in the case of the demultiplexer. A first layer of optically transparent material is formed on the substrate overlying the detectors and/or emitters and a second layer of optically transparent material is formed on the first layer and functions as an optical waveguide.

Abstract: A multiplexer/demultiplexer is provided for optical interconnection between electronic components on an integrated circuit chip. The multiplexer/demultiplexer includes a substrate formed with an array of photo emitters/detectors and conditioning electronics coupled thereto. A first layer of optically transparent material is formed on the substrate overlying the emitters/detectors and a second layer of optically transparent material, functioning as an optical waveguide, is formed on the first layer. A binary blazed grating is formed at the interface of the two layers. For multiplexing, discrete wavelength optical signals are modulated with data, emitted by the emitters, intercepted by the binary blazed grating, and multiplexed into a polychromatic beam for transmission through the waveguide. For demultiplexing, the discrete wavelengths are separated by the binary blazed grating and directed to corresponding detectors.