A photonic integrated circuit chip includes vertical grating couplers defined in a first layer. Second insulating layers overlie the vertical grating coupler and an interconnection structure with metal levels is embedded in the second insulating layers. A cavity extends in depth through the second insulating layers all the way to an intermediate level between the couplers and the metal level closest to the couplers. The cavity has lateral dimensions such that the cavity is capable of receiving a block for holding an array of optical fibers intended to be optically coupled to the couplers.

Example implementations described herein are directed to an interface configured to redirect light between a connector connected to a printed optical board (POB) via an optical waveguide, and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), the interface involving two-dimensionally distributed waveplates (TDWs) having multiple layers of p-doped and n-doped silicon, the TDWs configured to be driven to change a dielectric constant at a two dimensional location on the TDWs such that the received light is redirected at the two dimensional location.

A waveguide illuminator includes an input waveguide, a waveguide splitter coupled to the input waveguide, and a waveguide array coupled to the waveguide splitter. The waveguide array includes an array of out-couplers out-coupling portions of the split light beam to form an array of out-coupled beam portions for illuminating a display panel. Locations of the array of out-couplers are coordinated with locations of individual pixels of the display panel, causing each light beam portion to propagate through a corresponding pixel of the display panel, thereby improving efficiency of light utilization by the display panel.

A waveguide illuminator includes an input waveguide, a waveguide splitter coupled to the input waveguide, and a waveguide array coupled to the waveguide splitter. The waveguide array includes an array of out-couplers out-coupling portions of the split light beam to form an array of out-coupled beam portions for illuminating a display panel. Locations of the array of out-couplers are coordinated with locations of individual pixels of the display panel, causing each light beam portion to propagate through a corresponding pixel of the display panel, thereby improving efficiency of light utilization by the display panel.

Eyewear including a frame, a projector supported by the frame, and a lens supported by the frame. The lens has a first surface facing an eye of the user and a second surface facing away from the eye of the user when the frame is worn. The lens also includes a waveguide defined by the first and second surfaces to receive light from the projector. An input light coupler and an output light coupler are on the first surface of the lens and at least one reflector is positioned on a second surface of the lens to redirect light received from the input coupler and/or the output coupler to redirect light having an angle of incidence with respect to the second surface of the lens that would result in that portion of the light exiting the waveguide through the second surface in the absence of the at least one reflector.

The present disclosure is directed towards aligning a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) through providing a PIC with a marker waveguide, wherein a marker waveguide is a waveguide having: a first end located at the edge of the PIC wherein the first end is coupled to an edge coupling; and a second end coupled to a grating coupler or a device coupler, wherein: the grating coupler or device coupler is configured to receive light and couple the light to the waveguide to illuminate the waveguide to facilitate the correct alignment of the edge coupler to an external component.

The present disclosure is directed towards aligning a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) through providing a PIC with a marker waveguide, wherein a marker waveguide is a waveguide having: a first end located at the edge of the PIC wherein the first end is coupled to an edge coupling; and a second end coupled to a grating coupler or a device coupler, wherein: the grating coupler or device coupler is configured to receive light and couple the light to the waveguide to illuminate the waveguide to facilitate the correct alignment of the edge coupler to an external component.

An optical waveguide structure includes a lower cladding layer positioned on a substrate; an optical guide layer positioned on the lower cladding layer; an upper cladding layer positioned on the optical guide layer; and a heater positioned on the upper cladding layer. The lower cladding layer, the optical guide layer, and the upper cladding layer constitute a mesa structure. The optical guide layer has a lower thermal conductivity than the upper cladding layer. An equation “W.sub.wg≤W.sub.mesa≤3×W.sub.wg” is satisfied, wherein W.sub.mesa represents a mesa width of the mesa structure, and W.sub.wg represents a width of the optical guide layer. The optical guide layer occupies one-third or more of the mesa width in a width direction of the mesa structure.

A graded-index polymer waveguide (30) and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The method includes providing a waveguide substrate (1); manufacturing a waveguide lower cladding layer (2) on a surface of the waveguide substrate (1); coating a material of a waveguide core layer (3) having UV photosensitivity on a surface of the waveguide lower cladding layer (2) away from the waveguide substrate (1); performing a hot imprinting process for the material of the waveguide core layer by means of a flexible transfer film mold and forming a waveguide core layer (3) having an imprinted waveguide link structure; performing a heat treatment process for the waveguide core layer (3); performing a pre-exposure process for the waveguide core layer; coating a waveguide upper cladding layer on a surface of a waveguide core layer (3); and curing the waveguide core layer (3) and the waveguide upper cladding layer (4).

A graded-index polymer waveguide (30) and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The method includes providing a waveguide substrate (1); manufacturing a waveguide lower cladding layer (2) on a surface of the waveguide substrate (1); coating a material of a waveguide core layer (3) having UV photosensitivity on a surface of the waveguide lower cladding layer (2) away from the waveguide substrate (1); performing a hot imprinting process for the material of the waveguide core layer by means of a flexible transfer film mold and forming a waveguide core layer (3) having an imprinted waveguide link structure; performing a heat treatment process for the waveguide core layer (3); performing a pre-exposure process for the waveguide core layer; coating a waveguide upper cladding layer on a surface of a waveguide core layer (3); and curing the waveguide core layer (3) and the waveguide upper cladding layer (4).