In an example, a photonic system includes a Si PIC with a Si substrate, a SiO.sub.2 box formed on the Si substrate, a first layer, and a second layer. The first layer is formed above the SiO.sub.2 box and includes a SiN waveguide with a coupler portion at a first end and a tapered end opposite the first end. The second layer is formed above the SiO.sub.2 box and vertically displaced above or below the first layer. The second layer includes a Si waveguide with a tapered end aligned in two orthogonal directions with the coupler portion of the SiN waveguide such that the tapered end of the Si waveguide overlaps in the two orthogonal directions and is parallel to the coupler portion of the SiN waveguide. The tapered end of the SiN waveguide is configured to be adiabatically coupled to a coupler portion of an interposer waveguide.

A light shield may be formed in photonic integrated circuit between integrated optical devices of the photonic integrated circuit. The light shield may be built by using materials already present in the photonic integrated circuit, for example the light shield may include metal walls and doped semiconductor regions. Light-emitting or light-sensitive integrated optical devices or modules of a photonic integrated circuit may be constructed with light shields integrally built in.

An integrated optical assembly includes an optics mount. The optics mount has disposed thereon a light source for providing a beam of light and a lens configured to focus the beam of light. The integrated optical assembly includes a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mechanically coupled to the optics mount. The PIC has disposed thereon a grating coupler for receiving the beam of light and coupling the beam of light into a waveguide. The integrated optical assembly includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror configured to receive the beam of light from the lens and redirect it towards the grating coupler. A position of a reflective portion of the MEMS mirror is adjustable to affect an angle of incidence of the beam of light on the grating coupler.

A method and system for coupling optical signals into silicon optoelectronic chips are disclosed and may include coupling one or more optical signals into a back surface of a CMOS photonic chip comprising photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. The devices may be integrated in a front surface of the chip and one or more optical couplers may receive the optical signals in the front surface of the chip. The optical signals may be coupled into the back surface of the chip via one or more optical fibers and/or optical source assemblies. The optical signals may be coupled to the grating couplers via a light path etched in the chip, which may be refilled with silicon dioxide. The chip may be flip-chip bonded to a packaging substrate. Optical signals may be reflected back to the grating couplers via metal reflectors, which may be integrated in dielectric layers on the chip.

An integrated optical assembly includes an optics mount. The optics mount has disposed thereon a light source for providing a beam of light and a lens configured to focus the beam of light. The integrated optical assembly includes a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mechanically coupled to the optics mount. The PIC has disposed thereon a grating coupler for receiving the beam of light and coupling the beam of light into a waveguide. The integrated optical assembly includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror configured to receive the beam of light from the lens and redirect it towards the grating coupler. A position of a reflective portion of the MEMS mirror is adjustable to affect an angle of incidence of the beam of light on the grating coupler.

An integrated optical assembly includes an optics mount. The optics mount has disposed thereon a light source for providing a beam of light and a lens configured to focus the beam of light. The integrated optical assembly includes a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) mechanically coupled to the optics mount. The PIC has disposed thereon a grating coupler for receiving the beam of light and coupling the beam of light into a waveguide. The integrated optical assembly includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror configured to receive the beam of light from the lens and redirect it towards the grating coupler. A position of a reflective portion of the MEMS mirror is adjustable to affect an angle of incidence of the beam of light on the grating coupler.

An electronic power cell memory back-up battery is disclosed. The electronic power cell memory back-up battery utilizes stored light photons to produce usable energy, and can be used to replace batteries or other power sources in electronic devices. The electronic power cell memory back-up battery disclosed includes a light source and a photovoltaic device in optical communication with the light source. The photovoltaic device creates electrical power in response to receiving light from the light source. A portion of the electrical power generated by the photovoltaic device is used to power the light source. In some embodiments power input contacts are included for use in providing initial start-up power to the light source. In some embodiments the light source comprises a light-emitting device and a photoluminescent material optically coupled to the light-emitting device, where the photoluminescent material emits light in response to receiving light from the light-emitting device.

An apparatus includes a first coupler configured to input input light through an input waveguide and branch the input light into first and second branch waveguides; a second coupler configured to combine the first and second branch waveguides and to output the output light through an output waveguide; a phase adjuster having a birefringent property, provided to the second branch waveguide; and a polarization converter having a birefringent property, provided to the output waveguide and configured to, when reflected light corresponding to the output light is input to the output waveguide, convert a polarization state of the reflected light such that a first part of the reflected light for traveling through the first path and a second part of the reflected light for traveling through the second path are in antiphase at the input waveguide.

A compact six-port Photonic Crystal (PhC) circulator includes a hexagonal PhC branch waveguide and six waveguide ports, wherein six PhC branch waveguides respectively correspond to the six waveguide ports, and the six waveguide ports respectively are symmetrically distributed at the periphery of PhCs. One second dielectric material column is arranged at the center of the hexagonal PhC waveguide. Six identical magneto-optical material columns respectively are arranged at first adjacent positions of the second dielectric material column. Six identical third dielectric material columns respectively are arranged at second adjacent positions of the second dielectric material column. An electromagnetic signal is inputted from any one of the waveguide ports and is outputted from the next waveguide port adjacent thereto, while the remaining waveguide ports are in a signal isolated state, thus forming unidirectional circular transmission.

Nonreciprocal optical transmission devices and optical apparatuses including the nonreciprocal optical transmission devices are provided. A nonreciprocal optical transmission device includes an optical input portion, an optical output portion, and an intermediate connecting portion interposed between the optical input portion and the optical output portion, and comprising optical waveguides. A complex refractive index of any one or any combination of the optical waveguides changes between the optical input portion and the optical output portion, and a transmission direction of light through the nonreciprocal optical transmission device is controlled by a change in the complex refractive index.