A multi-beam optical phased array on a single planar waveguide layer or a small number of planar waveguide layers enables building an optical sensor that performs much like a significantly larger telescope. Imaging systems use planar waveguides created using micro-lithographic techniques. These imagers are variants of phased arrays, common and familiar from microwave radar applications. However, there are significant differences when these same concepts are applied to visible and infrared light.

Methods and systems for two-dimensional mode-matching grating couplers may include in a photonic chip comprising a grating coupler at a surface of the photonic chip, where the grating coupler has increased scattering strength in a direction of a light wave traveling through the grating coupler: receiving an optical signal from a first direction within the photonic chip; and scattering the optical signal out of the surface of the photonic chip. A second optical signal may be received in the grating coupler from a second direction within the photonic chip. The second optical signal may be scattered out of the surface of the photonic chip. The increasing scattering strength may be caused by increased width scatterers along a direction perpendicular to the direction of light travel. The increased scattering strength may be caused by a transition of shapes of scatterers in the grating coupler.

Methods and systems for two-dimensional mode-matching grating couplers may include in a photonic chip comprising a grating coupler at a surface of the photonic chip, where the grating coupler has increased scattering strength in a direction of a light wave traveling through the grating coupler: receiving an optical signal from a first direction within the photonic chip; and scattering the optical signal out of the surface of the photonic chip. A second optical signal may be received in the grating coupler from a second direction within the photonic chip. The second optical signal may be scattered out of the surface of the photonic chip. The increasing scattering strength may be caused by increased width scatterers along a direction perpendicular to the direction of light travel. The increased scattering strength may be caused by a transition of shapes of scatterers in the grating coupler.

A hybrid grating comprises a first grating layer composed of a first solid-state material, and a second grating layer over the first grating layer and composed of a second solid-state material, the second solid state-material being different than the first solid-state material and having a monocrystalline structure.

A hybrid grating comprises a first grating layer composed of a first solid-state material, and a second grating layer over the first grating layer and composed of a second solid-state material, the second solid state-material being different than the first solid-state material and having a monocrystalline structure.

Embodiments described herein relate to a light coupler, a photonic integrated circuit, and a method for manufacturing a light coupler. The light coupler is for optically coupling to an integrated waveguide and for out-coupling a light signal propagating in the integrated waveguide into free space. The light coupler includes a plurality of microstructures. The plurality of microstructures is adapted in shape and position to compensate decay of the light signal when propagating in the light coupler. The plurality of microstructures is also adapted in shape and position to provide a power distribution of the light signal when coupled into free space such that the power distribution corresponds to a predetermined target power distribution. Each of the microstructures forms an optical scattering center. The microstructures are positioned on the light coupler in accordance with a non-uniform number density distribution.

A waveguide sheet captures incident light and waveguides the incident light in a direction intersecting with an incident direction. The waveguide sheet includes a diffraction grating layer that changes a traveling direction of the incident light and a plurality of first light-transmissive pairs. Each of the first light-transmissive pairs includes a first light-transmissive layer having a shape with first concave streaks and first convex streaks being repeatedly arranged in a first direction that is a direction intersecting with the incident direction, and a second light-transmissive layer laminated on the first light-transmissive layer. In the plurality of first light-transmissive pairs, the first light-transmissive layer is located closer to a side of the diffraction grating layer and each of the first concave streaks of another first light-transmissive layer is located between adjacent first convex streaks among the first convex streaks of the first light-transmissive layer as seen in the incident direction.

A waveguide sheet captures incident light and waveguides the incident light in a direction intersecting with an incident direction. The waveguide sheet includes a diffraction grating layer that changes a traveling direction of the incident light and a plurality of first light-transmissive pairs. Each of the first light-transmissive pairs includes a first light-transmissive layer having a shape with first concave streaks and first convex streaks being repeatedly arranged in a first direction that is a direction intersecting with the incident direction, and a second light-transmissive layer laminated on the first light-transmissive layer. In the plurality of first light-transmissive pairs, the first light-transmissive layer is located closer to a side of the diffraction grating layer and each of the first concave streaks of another first light-transmissive layer is located between adjacent first convex streaks among the first convex streaks of the first light-transmissive layer as seen in the incident direction.

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.

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.