Electro-optic integrated circuits with connectors and methods for the production thereof

Abstract

An electro-optic integrated circuit including an integrated circuit substrate, at least one optical signal providing element and at least one discrete reflecting optical element, mounted onto the integrated circuit substrate, cooperating with the at least one optical signal providing element and being operative to direct light from the at least one optical signal providing element. An electro-optic integrated circuit including an integrated circuit substrate, at least one optical signal receiving element and at least one discrete reflecting optical element mounted onto the integrated circuit substrate and cooperating with the at least one optical signal receiving element and being operative to direct light to the at least one optical signal receiving element.

1 . An optical device formed from a substrate, the optical device, comprising:
 an optical fiber, having a core region, mounted on a surface of the substrate;   an optical element disposed on the substrate and operatively configured for optical coupling with the core region of the optical fiber;   an optical connector, the optical connector comprising alignment bores.   
   
   
       2 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein, the alignment bores are arranged on an edge of the optical device. 
   
   
       3 . The optical device of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 electrical circuitry formed on another surface of the substrate; and   an electro-optic component coupled to the electrical circuitry.   
   
   
       4 . The optical device of  claim 1 , further comprising, a set of positioning elements within which the optical fiber is disposed. 
   
   
       5 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is substantially optically transparent. 
   
   
       6 . The optical device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transverse notch within which the optical element is disposed, the transverse notch extending from the surface of the substrate through at least a portion of the optical fiber;   wherein transverse notch has at least one inclined surface.   
   
   
       7 . The optical device of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising an optical adhesive disposed between the surface and the optical element;   wherein the optical adhesive has an index of refraction at least generally matched to that of the core region of the optical fiber and to that of the optical element.   
   
   
       8 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical element has a flat reflective surface or a curved surface. 
   
   
       9 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical element includes a concave mirror. 
   
   
       10 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical element includes a reflective grating. 
   
   
       11 . The optical device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical element includes reflective elements formed on opposite surfaces of an optical substrate. 
   
   
       12 . The optical device of  claim 2 , wherein the optical connector is aligned with an end of the optical fiber along the edge of the optical device. 
   
   
       13 . An optical device comprising:
 a substrate having first and second surfaces;   an optical fiber, having a core region, mounted on the first surface of the substrate;   an optical element disposed on the substrate and operatively configured for optical coupling with the core region of the optical fiber;   wherein the optical element is operatively configured to collimate light received from the optical fiber.   
   
   
       14 . An optical device formed from a substrate, the optical device, comprising:
 an optical fiber, having a core region, mounted on a surface of the substrate;   an optical element disposed on the substrate and operatively configured for optical coupling with the core region of the optical fiber;   wherein the optical element is operatively configured to focus at least one of multiple colors of light received from the optical fiber.   
   
   
       15 . An optical device formed from a substrate, the optical device, comprising:
 an optical fiber, having a core region, mounted on a surface of the substrate;   an optical element disposed on the substrate and operatively configured for optical coupling with the core region of the optical fiber;   wherein the optical element is operatively configured to focus light received from the optical fiber.   
   
   
       16 . The optical device of  claim 15 , further comprising,
 electrical circuitry formed on another surface of the substrate; and   an electro-optic component coupled to the electrical circuitry.   
   
   
       17 . The optical device of  claim 15 , further comprising, a set of positioning elements within which the optical fiber is disposed. 
   
   
       18 . The optical device of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate is substantially optically transmissive. 
   
   
       19 . The optical device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a transverse notch within which the optical element is disposed, the transverse notch extending from the surface of the substrate through a portion of the optical fiber;   wherein transverse notch has an inclined surface.   
   
   
       20 . The optical device of  claim 15 , wherein the optical element includes a partially flat and partially concave mirror. 
   
   
       21 . The optical device of  claim 20 , wherein the partially concave mirror includes a mirror having multiple concave reflective surfaces. 
   
   
       22 . The optical device of  claim 15 , further comprising, an optical connector. 
   
   
       23 . The optical device of  claim 22 , wherein the optical connector is aligned with an end of the optical fiber along an edge of the optical device. 
   
   
       24 . The optical device of  claim 22 , wherein the optical connector comprises alignment bores arranged on the edge of the optical device. 
   
   
       25 . An optical device comprising:
 a substrate having first and second surfaces;   an optical fiber, having a core region, mounted on the first surface of the substrate;   an optical element disposed partially within the substrate and operatively configured for optical coupling with the core region of the optical fiber.   
   
   
       26 . An optical device comprising:
 a substrate having first and second surfaces;   an optical fiber, having a core region, mounted on the first surface of the substrate;   an optical element disposed partially within the substrate and operatively configured for optical coupling with the core region of the optical fiber, the optical element having a reflective optical surface.   
   
   
       27 . The optical device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a transverse notch within which the optical element is disposed, the transverse notch extending from the first surface of the substrate through at least a portion of the optical fiber;   wherein transverse notch has an inclined surface.   
   
   
       28 . The optical device of  claim 26 , further comprising,
 electrical circuitry formed on the second surface of the substrate; and   an electro-optic component coupled to the electrical circuitry.   
   
   
       29 . The optical device of  claim 26 ,
 further comprising an optical adhesive disposed between the first surface and the optical element;   wherein the optical adhesive has an index of refraction at least generally matched to that of the core region of the optical fiber and to that of the optical element.   
   
   
       30 . The optical device of  claim 26 , wherein the reflective optical surface is a flat reflective surface or a curved surface. 
   
   
       31 . The optical device of  claim 26 , wherein the optical element includes a concave mirror. 
   
   
       32 . The optical device of  claim 26 , wherein the optical element includes a partially flat and partially concave mirror. 
   
   
       33 . The optical device of  claim 32 , wherein the partially concave mirror includes a mirror having multiple concave reflective surfaces. 
   
   
       34 . The optical device of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one optical element includes a reflective grating. 
   
   
       35 . The optical device of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one optical element includes reflective elements formed on opposite surfaces of an optical substrate.