A waveguide element includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide. The first waveguide includes a first main rib and a first slab that has a smaller thickness than that of the first main rib and in which a slab mode of light propagates. The second waveguide includes a second main rib that is optically coupled with the first main rib and in which the light propagates, a second slab that has a smaller thickness than that of the second main rib, that is optically coupled with the first slab, and in which the slab mode propagates, and a side rib that has a larger thickness than that of the second slab. The slab mode that propagates through the second slab transitions to the side rib in accordance with travel of the light that propagates in the first main rib and the second main rib.

A waveguide element includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide. The first waveguide includes a first main rib and a first slab that has a smaller thickness than that of the first main rib and in which a slab mode of light propagates. The second waveguide includes a second main rib that is optically coupled with the first main rib and in which the light propagates, a second slab that has a smaller thickness than that of the second main rib, that is optically coupled with the first slab, and in which the slab mode propagates, and a side rib that has a larger thickness than that of the second slab. The slab mode that propagates through the second slab transitions to the side rib in accordance with travel of the light that propagates in the first main rib and the second main rib.

An optical out-coupler unit for out-coupling light from a waveguide, comprising a substrate having a planar top surface, a waveguide arranged on the top surface of the substrate and having a facet, a reflective surface, wherein the reflective surface is arranged spaced apart from the facet and opposing the facet, wherein the reflective surface is inclined with respect to a normal to the top surface of the substrate by more than 45°. The optical out-coupler may be part of a photonic integrated chip (PIC).

Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

Disclosed is a polymeric waveguide for propagating light therein along width and length dimensions of the polymeric waveguide. The polymeric waveguide has a first curved surface on one side thereof and a second curved surface on an opposite second side thereof, and a refractive index spatially varying through a thickness thereof between the first curved surface and the second curved surface. The polymeric waveguide is curved in a cross-section comprising at least one of the width and length dimensions.

Provided are three dimensional, stretchable, optical sensor networks that can localize deformations. The devices described herein are suitable for uses in soft robots to determine the position of external contact, such as touching, and possibly internal deformations that may be caused by actuation. Sensor networks of the present disclosure contain a substrate, such as a 3D lattice, and cores having a cladding, such as air. Light passes through the cores and upon deformation of the substrate, cores may come into contact, allowing light to couple between cores due to frustrated total internal reflection. The resulting changes in intensity in the cores can be used to determine the placement and magnitude of deformation.

Provided are three dimensional, stretchable, optical sensor networks that can localize deformations. The devices described herein are suitable for uses in soft robots to determine the position of external contact, such as touching, and possibly internal deformations that may be caused by actuation. Sensor networks of the present disclosure contain a substrate, such as a 3D lattice, and cores having a cladding, such as air. Light passes through the cores and upon deformation of the substrate, cores may come into contact, allowing light to couple between cores due to frustrated total internal reflection. The resulting changes in intensity in the cores can be used to determine the placement and magnitude of deformation.

Provided are three dimensional, stretchable, optical sensor networks that can localize deformations. The devices described herein are suitable for uses in soft robots to determine the position of external contact, such as touching, and possibly internal deformations that may be caused by actuation. Sensor networks of the present disclosure contain a substrate, such as a 3D lattice, and cores having a cladding, such as air. Light passes through the cores and upon deformation of the substrate, cores may come into contact, allowing light to couple between cores due to frustrated total internal reflection. The resulting changes in intensity in the cores can be used to determine the placement and magnitude of deformation.

Provided are three dimensional, stretchable, optical sensor networks that can localize deformations. The devices described herein are suitable for uses in soft robots to determine the position of external contact, such as touching, and possibly internal deformations that may be caused by actuation. Sensor networks of the present disclosure contain a substrate, such as a 3D lattice, and cores having a cladding, such as air. Light passes through the cores and upon deformation of the substrate, cores may come into contact, allowing light to couple between cores due to frustrated total internal reflection. The resulting changes in intensity in the cores can be used to determine the placement and magnitude of deformation.

A three-port silicon beam splitter chip includes an input waveguide, three output waveguides, and a coupling region disposed between the input waveguide and the output waveguides and being in a square shape. The input waveguide and the output waveguide have a same width K, where 490 nm<K<510 nm, the coupling region, the input waveguide and the output waveguide have a same thickness H, where 210 nm<H<230 nm, and the coupling region has a length L, where 1600 nm<L<2000 nm. The three-port silicon beam splitter chip of the present disclosure has a high integration degree and a small size, and is capable of improving the portability of the wavefront reconstruction device.