Optical splitters and system and methods utilizing optical splitters are disclosed. The optical splitter may include an input waveguide, a free propagation region, and a plurality output waveguides. The output waveguides are connected to the free propagation region at a corresponding plurality of output ports that are positioned along a non-circular path. The output ports may be positioned such that the output waveguides have the same width.

An optical device includes: a multi-mode interference waveguide that includes a first end portion in a first direction and a second end portion in opposite direction to the first direction; a first port that is arranged in the first end portion; a second port that is arranged in the first end portion; a third port that is arranged in the second end portion and that is positioned at a center of the second end portion in the second direction; and two fourth ports that are arranged in the second end portion and that are positioned on both sides of the third port in the second direction.

Configurations for an optical system used for guiding light and reducing back-reflection back in an output waveguide is disclosed. The optical system may include an output waveguide defined in a slab waveguide. The output waveguide may terminate before an output side of the slab waveguide, which may reduce the back-reflection of light from the output side back into the output waveguide. The output side may define an optical element that may steer the output light. The optical element may collimate the output light, cause the output light to converge, or cause the output light to diverge.

An integrated mode converter and multiplexer (/demultiplexer) combines a multimode interference coupler, at least one phase-shifter and a symmetrical Y-junction. The dispersion of the multimode interference coupler is engineered through subwavelength structures in order to achieve a very wide bandwidth. Several phase-shifter topologies for further bandwidth enhancement are disclosed, as well as architectures for multiplexing a greater number of optical modes.

Structures with waveguide cores in multiple levels and methods of fabricating a structure that includes waveguide cores in multiple levels. The structure includes a first waveguide core and a second waveguide core positioned in a different level than the first waveguide core. The first waveguide core includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of segments having a spaced arrangement along the longitudinal axis. The second waveguide core is aligned to extend across the plurality of segments of the first waveguide core.

Apparatuses, systems, and associated methods of manufacturing are described that provide an optical interposer and associated communication system. An example optical interposer includes a substrate having a first end that receives a first optical fiber welded thereto and a second end that receives a plurality of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) attached thereto. The interposer further includes an optical waveguide network defined by the substrate that provides optical communication between the first welded optical fiber and the plurality of PICs. The optical waveguide network also includes optical redistribution elements supported by the substrate. In an operational configuration, the optical interposer receives a first input optical signal from the first welded optical fiber, and the plurality of optical redistribution elements successively split the first input optical signal such that a plurality of output optical signals is directed to the plurality of PICs.

This application provides an example light source switching apparatus. The apparatus includes first and second multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers, and a phase modulator. The first MMI coupler includes four ports, where first and second ports are located on one side, and third and fourth ports are located on the other side. The second MMI coupler includes three ports, where fifth and sixth ports are located on one side, and a seventh port is located on the other side. The first and the second ports connect to the fifth and the sixth ports, respectively, to form two connections. The phase modulator is disposed on one of the two connections, and the seventh port connects to an optical modulator. Both the third and the fourth ports connect to a light source emitting continuous light, and the phase modulator selects one of the two light sources for output from the seventh port.

A device includes a light splitter configured to receive a source light beam from a light source and split the source light beam into separate light beams, each emitted through an outlet. The device also includes resonators, each of which is optically coupled to at least one of the outlets and is configured to steer at least one of the light beams.

A signal-distributing device that includes an arrayed-waveguide-grating demultiplexer and at least one receiving module. Each receiving module includes a multimode interference coupler and two output waveguides, the multimode interference coupler being located between the arrayed-waveguide-grating demultiplexer and the two output waveguides. The multimode interference coupler is configured to distribute, to the two output waveguides, an optical signal delivered by the arrayed-waveguide-grating demultiplexer. Such a device allows wavelength shifts in the signal delivered by a set of one or more sensors, in particular Bragg grating reflectors inscribed in a given optical fibre, to be measured. It allows a wavelength shift to be measured with a high linearity and a signal-to-noise ratio.

Systems and methods for implementing a multimode splitting structure that divides a multimode wide waveguide into multiple narrower waveguides for photodetector connections in an optoelectronic system are disclosed. The optoelectronic system includes an optical filter, a multimode splitter, and a plurality of photodetector. The optical filter is communicatively coupled to a first waveguide to receive an optical signal and configured to demultiplex the optical signal onto a plurality of second waveguides based on different wavelengths. The multimode splitter is adapted to divide each of the plurality of second waveguides into a plurality of third waveguides. Each of the plurality of photodetector is adapted to be connected to each of the plurality of the third waveguide.