JPH0439042B2 - - Google Patents
Info
- Publication number
- JPH0439042B2 JPH0439042B2 JP12671983A JP12671983A JPH0439042B2 JP H0439042 B2 JPH0439042 B2 JP H0439042B2 JP 12671983 A JP12671983 A JP 12671983A JP 12671983 A JP12671983 A JP 12671983A JP H0439042 B2 JPH0439042 B2 JP H0439042B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- optical
- refractive index
- distribution circuit
- optical waveguide
- section
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 51
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 description 7
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- -1 silver ions Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 229910021645 metal ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052792 caesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052716 thallium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/28—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
- G02B6/2804—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
- G02B6/2808—Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/10—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type
- G02B6/12—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings of the optical waveguide type of the integrated circuit kind
- G02B6/122—Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
- G02B6/125—Bends, branchings or intersections
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Optical Integrated Circuits (AREA)
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
本発明は、複数個の入力端のうちの任意の入力
端から入力した光がすべての複数個の出力端に分
配される平面型光分配回路に関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a planar optical distribution circuit in which light input from any one of a plurality of input terminals is distributed to all of the plurality of output terminals.
近年、光半導体素子や光フアイバの高品質化が
進み光フアイバ通信の実用化が急速に進展してい
る。ことにデータ伝送系においては、その有用性
が有望視されているが、その場合、同一情報を多
端末に送ることができる光分配回路は欠くことの
できないデバイスの１つである。 In recent years, the quality of optical semiconductor devices and optical fibers has improved, and the practical application of optical fiber communications has rapidly progressed. In particular, its usefulness is seen as promising in data transmission systems, in which case an optical distribution circuit that can send the same information to multiple terminals is one of the indispensable devices.
従来、基板上に形成された光導波路による平面
型光分配回路としては高戸等による昭和54年度電
子通信学会全国大会予稿集の810頁に示されたも
の等がある。第１図に示すように、上記予稿集の
光分配回路は入力端を１０１〜１０６、出力端を
１０７〜１１２、ミキシング部１１３とする光導
波路が基板１１４の上に高分子材料を用いて形成
されている。この他、光分配回路としては上述の
入出力端１０１〜１１２を含まないミキシング部
のみのものもある。本明細書ではこれら両方のタ
イプのものを含めて光分配回路としている。この
光分配回路は、入力端１０１〜１０６に光フアイ
バ（図には示していない）から入射された光は
各々ミキシング部１１３を経て出力端１０７〜１
１２のすべてに分配されるという光分配回路とし
ての基本機能は有しているものの、実際上は各出
力端１０７〜１１２に等しい出力が射出するよう
にするためにミキシング部１１３の長さを長く
（入出力端の数が多くなればそれだけ長くなる）
する必要があり、光分配回路が大きく、かつ損失
も多くなるという欠点があつた。 Conventionally, as a planar optical distribution circuit using an optical waveguide formed on a substrate, there is the one shown by Takato et al. on page 810 of the proceedings of the 1974 National Conference of the Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers. As shown in FIG. 1, in the optical distribution circuit of the above-mentioned manuscript collection, an optical waveguide with input ends 101 to 106, output ends 107 to 112, and a mixing section 113 is formed using a polymer material on a substrate 114. has been done. In addition, some optical distribution circuits include only a mixing section that does not include the above-mentioned input/output terminals 101 to 112. In this specification, both of these types are included in the optical distribution circuit. In this optical distribution circuit, light incident on input ends 101 to 106 from optical fibers (not shown) passes through a mixing section 113 to output ends 107 to 106, respectively.
Although it has the basic function as an optical distribution circuit of distributing to all of the output terminals 107 to 112, the length of the mixing section 113 is actually made longer in order to output equal output to each output terminal 107 to 112. (The more the number of input/output terminals, the longer it will be.)
However, the disadvantage is that the optical distribution circuit is large and there is a lot of loss.
本発明の目的は、上述の欠点を除去し、小型で
損失の少ない平面型光分配回路を提供することに
ある。 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide a planar optical distribution circuit that is small in size and has low loss.
本発明によれば、基板に形成された光導波路を
含んで構成される平面型光分配回路において、光
軸方向のほぼ中央部に幅が最も狭くなるテーパ状
に形成されたミキシング部とする光導波路を有
し、かつそのテーパ状に形成された光導波路の屈
折率がテーパ状に形成されていない光導波路の屈
折率より大きいことを特徴とする平面型光分配回
路が得られる。 According to the present invention, in a planar optical distribution circuit including an optical waveguide formed on a substrate, the optical guide has a mixing portion formed in a tapered shape having the narrowest width approximately at the center in the optical axis direction. A planar optical distribution circuit is obtained which has a wave path and is characterized in that the refractive index of the tapered optical waveguide is larger than the refractive index of the non-tapered optical waveguide.
以下、図面を参照して本発明を詳細に説明す
る。 Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.
第２図は本発明による平面型光分配回路の好ま
しい一実施例を示したものである。第２図ａは本
実施例の平面図であり、第２図ｂは第２図ａの光
導波路部分Ａ−A′での屈折率分布を示したもの
である。基板２００に形成された光導波路は、入
力側合波部光導波路２０１〜２０６と中心部付近
にテーパ部２２１をもつ光導波路２２０と、出力
側分岐部光導波路２０１′〜２０６′とから構成さ
れている。ここで、光導波路２２０は、ミキシン
グ部である。そして、テーパ部２２１のＡ−
A′方向の屈折率分布は、第２図ｂに示すように
なつており、テーパ部２２１の屈折率は、入力側
合波部光導波路２０１〜２０６、出力側分岐部光
導波路２０１′〜２０６′の屈折率n0より大きくか
つＡ，A′点を中心に徐々に変化している。入力
側光フアイバ２１１〜２１６は入力側合波部光導
波路２０１〜２０６と、出力側光フアイバ２１
１′〜２１６′は出力側分岐部光導波路２０１′〜
２０６′と光学的に効率良く結合するように設け
られている。ここで、基板２００にはBK−７ガ
ラスを用いた。入力側合波部光導波路２０１〜２
０６、ミキシング部の光導波路２２０、出力側分
岐部光導波路２０１′〜２０６′は通常用いられる
イオン浸透法すなわち金属イオンわを基板中に熱
的に、または、熱的かつ電界印加により拡散させ
て、基板中に高屈折率部を形成する方法で実現し
た。ここでは、金属イオンとして銀イオンを用い
た。なお、ミキシング部のテーパ部２２１での屈
折率の増大は、先に示したイオン浸透法を再度行
なうことで実現した。このとき、テーパ部２２１
以外はマスクをしてイオが浸透しないようにして
ある。ミキシング部の光導波路２２０のＡ側に達
した光は、テーパ部２２１に入ると、角度の変換
を受け、テーパ部２２１が無いときより、短かい
ミキシング部の導波路の長さで一層モードミキシ
ングを受けやすくなる。しかも、このテーパ部２
２１の屈折率n1がテーパ部２２１以外の光導波路
の屈折率n0より大きくなつているため、テーパ部
２２１の屈折率がテーパ部２２１以外の光導波路
の屈折率と同じである場合導波モードとなり得な
いモードも導波モードとなり、テーパ部での損失
が大幅に低減できた。 FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the planar optical distribution circuit according to the present invention. FIG. 2a is a plan view of this embodiment, and FIG. 2b shows the refractive index distribution at the optical waveguide section A-A' in FIG. 2a. The optical waveguide formed on the substrate 200 is composed of input side multiplexing section optical waveguides 201 to 206, an optical waveguide 220 having a tapered section 221 near the center, and output side branching section optical waveguides 201' to 206'. ing. Here, the optical waveguide 220 is a mixing section. Then, A- of the tapered portion 221
The refractive index distribution in the A' direction is as shown in FIG. 2b, and the refractive index of the tapered part 221 is as follows: is larger than the refractive index n 0 of ', and gradually changes around points A and A'. The input side optical fibers 211 to 216 are connected to the input side multiplexing section optical waveguides 201 to 206 and the output side optical fiber 21.
1' to 216' are output side branch optical waveguides 201' to 216'.
206' so as to be optically coupled efficiently. Here, BK-7 glass was used for the substrate 200. Input side multiplexing section optical waveguides 201-2
06. The optical waveguide 220 of the mixing section and the output side branch optical waveguides 201' to 206' are formed by the commonly used ion penetration method, that is, by diffusing metal ions into the substrate thermally or by thermally and applying an electric field. This was achieved by forming a high refractive index region in the substrate. Here, silver ions were used as metal ions. Incidentally, the increase in the refractive index at the taper section 221 of the mixing section was realized by performing the ion permeation method described above again. At this time, the taper portion 221
Other than that, I wore a mask to prevent Io from penetrating. When the light that reaches the A side of the optical waveguide 220 of the mixing section enters the taper section 221, it undergoes an angle conversion, and the shorter length of the waveguide of the mixing section causes more mode mixing than when there is no taper section 221. It becomes easier to receive. Moreover, this taper part 2
Since the refractive index n 1 of 21 is larger than the refractive index n 0 of the optical waveguide other than the tapered portion 221, if the refractive index of the tapered portion 221 is the same as the refractive index of the optical waveguide other than the tapered portion 221, the waveguide Even modes that could not become modes became waveguide modes, and the loss at the taper section was significantly reduced.
本実施例において、基板２００はBK7以外の
ガラスの他、光学的に透明な他の材料であつても
良い。また、光導波路２０１〜２０６，２０１′
〜２０６′，２２０の製造方法はイオン浸透法に
限定されず（用いる金属イオンも銀イオンの他、
タリウムイオン、セシウムイオン等を用いても良
い）、テーパ部２２１の屈折率を高めるときに用
いるイオンと他の光導波路形成に用いるイオンや
製造方法は異なつていても良い。さらに、入力側
合波部光導波路２０１〜２０６、出力側分岐部光
導波路２０１′〜２０６′は無くても良い。 In this embodiment, the substrate 200 may be made of glass other than BK7, as well as other optically transparent materials. In addition, optical waveguides 201 to 206, 201'
The manufacturing method for ~206' and 220 is not limited to the iontophoresis method (the metal ions used may also include silver ions,
(Thallium ions, cesium ions, etc. may be used), and the ions used to increase the refractive index of the tapered portion 221 and the ions used for forming other optical waveguides and the manufacturing method may be different. Furthermore, the input side multiplexing section optical waveguides 201 to 206 and the output side branching section optical waveguides 201' to 206' may be omitted.
以上、この発明による平面型光分配回路につい
て、実施例を用いて詳細に説明したが、この発明
による平面型光分配回路は、ミキシング部がテー
パ状になつており、かつその部分の屈折率が他の
部分の光導波路の屈折率より大きくなつているた
め、前述の従来のものにくらべて1/2〜2/3程小型
で、低損失、かつ信頼性が高く生産性に富む等の
特長を具備しており、光通信システムに特に良く
適合する。 The planar optical distribution circuit according to the present invention has been described above in detail using the embodiments. In the planar optical distribution circuit according to the present invention, the mixing portion is tapered, and the refractive index of that portion is Because the refractive index of the optical waveguide is larger than that of other parts, it is 1/2 to 2/3 smaller than the conventional type mentioned above, and has low loss, high reliability, and high productivity. It is particularly well suited for optical communication systems.
第１図は従来の平面型光分配回路の一例を示す
平面図であり、第２図ａ，ｂはそれぞれ本発明の
一実施例を示す平面図およびａ図のＡ−A′部分
での屈折率分布を示す図である。
図において、２００……基板、２０１〜２０６
……入力側合波部光導波路、２０１′〜２０６′…
…出力側分岐部光導波路、２２０……光導波路、
２２１……テーパ部、２１１〜２１６……入力側
光フアイバ、２１１′〜２１６′……出力側光フア
イバ。
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional planar optical distribution circuit, and FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are plan views showing an embodiment of the present invention, and refraction at the A-A' portion in FIG. It is a figure showing a rate distribution. In the figure, 200...substrate, 201 to 206
...Input side multiplexing section optical waveguide, 201' to 206'...
...output side branch optical waveguide, 220...optical waveguide,
221...Tapered portion, 211-216...Input side optical fiber, 211'-216'...Output side optical fiber.
Claims (1)
る平面型光分配回路において、光軸方向のほぼ中
央部に幅が最も狭くなるテーパ状に形成された領
域をミキシング部とする光導波路を有し、かつそ
のテーパ状に形成された領域の屈折率がテーパ状
に形成されていない領域の屈折率より大きいこと
を特徴とする平面型光分配回路。1 In a planar optical distribution circuit that includes an optical waveguide formed on a substrate, the optical waveguide has a mixing section that is formed in a tapered shape where the width is narrowest at approximately the center in the optical axis direction. A planar light distribution circuit characterized in that the refractive index of the tapered region is larger than the refractive index of the non-tapered region.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP12671983A JPS6017706A (en) | 1983-07-12 | 1983-07-12 | Plane type light distributing circuit |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP12671983A JPS6017706A (en) | 1983-07-12 | 1983-07-12 | Plane type light distributing circuit |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS6017706A JPS6017706A (en) | 1985-01-29 |
| JPH0439042B2 true JPH0439042B2 (en) | 1992-06-26 |
Family
ID=14942170
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP12671983A Granted JPS6017706A (en) | 1983-07-12 | 1983-07-12 | Plane type light distributing circuit |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6017706A (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4786131A (en) * | 1987-07-28 | 1988-11-22 | Polaroid Corporation | Star coupler |
| JP3269505B2 (en) * | 1992-11-19 | 2002-03-25 | 三菱瓦斯化学株式会社 | Polymer optical waveguide type optical star coupler |
-
1983
- 1983-07-12 JP JP12671983A patent/JPS6017706A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6017706A (en) | 1985-01-29 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4693544A (en) | Optical branching device with internal waveguide | |
| US11644619B2 (en) | Optical splitter chip, optical splitter component, optical splitter apparatus, and optical fiber box | |
| KR100513013B1 (en) | Optical power splitter | |
| JPH0387704A (en) | Optical circuit | |
| JPH0133801B2 (en) | ||
| JP2000221345A (en) | Multi-mode interference light element | |
| Fujii et al. | Optical demultiplexer utilizing an Ebert mounting silicon grating | |
| JPS6017706A (en) | Plane type light distributing circuit | |
| JP2858744B2 (en) | Multi-channel optical switch and driving method thereof | |
| JPH0513289B2 (en) | ||
| JPS6076722A (en) | Matrix optical switch | |
| JPS6320965Y2 (en) | ||
| JP2819175B2 (en) | Waveguide type optical attenuator and optical integrated circuit | |
| JPH05224048A (en) | Star coupler | |
| JP2539381B2 (en) | Light switch | |
| JPH01201628A (en) | Optical switch | |
| JPS6262304A (en) | Y branched optical waveguide device | |
| JPH032806A (en) | Optical waveguide type branching/joining device | |
| JPS58211717A (en) | Composite optical waveguide | |
| Benech | Review on integrated optics technology | |
| JPS6380208A (en) | Optical waveguide type multi-demultiplexing circuit | |
| JPS62212633A (en) | Optical gate matrix switch | |
| JPS63135905A (en) | Waveguide type optical device | |
| JPS6396607A (en) | Optical star coupler | |
| JPH04282602A (en) | Optical waveguide element |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAPS | Cancellation because of no payment of annual fees |