Jianhua Jiang

US Patent:

7206470, Apr 17, 2007

Filed:

Oct 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/973068

Inventors:

Lixia Li - Madison AL, US
Gregory P. Nordin - Huntsville AL, US
Jianhua Jiang - Madison AL, US
Jennifer M. English - Madison AL, US

Assignee:

University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

G02B 6/12
G02B 6/26
G02B 6/42

US Classification:

385 14, 385 39

Abstract:

A planar lightwave circuit has a waveguide having a bend and plurality of multiple trenches with parallel front and back interfaces. The trench and waveguide refractive indexes are different such that a refractive interface is defined between the waveguide and the trench. The trench may include a material of higher refractive index than the waveguide, such as silicon, or alternatively a material having a lower refractive index than the waveguide, such as an air void. The trench is disposed on the waveguide bend such that the front and back planar interfaces have an angle of incidence to a direction of the lightwave propagation from the waveguide. The invention also includes beamsplitters that include trenches that reflect a portion of a lightwave in a first direction and a portion of a lightwave in a second direction.

US Patent:

6804446, Oct 12, 2004

Filed:

Nov 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/715966

Inventors:

Gregory P. Nordin - Huntsville AL
Seunghyun Kim - Huntsville AL
Jingbo Cai - Huntsville AL
Jianhua Jiang - Madison AL

Assignee:

University of Alabama in Huntsville - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

G02B 610

US Classification:

385132, 385129, 385125

Abstract:

A waveguide assembly is provided that includes a waveguide region and at least one photonic crystal (PhC) region. The waveguide region includes a longitudinally extending core that has an input channel and at least one output channel, and a cladding at least partially surrounding the core for confining signals within the core. The PhC region(s), in turn, extend laterally through at least a portion of the core to at least partially direct signals propagating through the core. The PhC region(s) can extend through at least a portion of the core to thereby form, for example, a bend, beamsplitter, polarizing beamsplitter, Mach-Zender interferometer or ring resonator for signals propagating through the core.