Polymer-Based Transmission Path for Communication and Sensing Applications

Optical transmission paths consisting of waveguides, light sources, and detectors form basic components in a large variety of applications ranging from photonic sensors to short distance communication. We demonstrate the design and fabrication of a polymer transmission path, which incorporates standard semiconductor light sources. In this paper, we especially focus on low-cost fabrication of such systems including easy-to-fabricate and optically efficient coupling structures. Our concept relies on self-written waveguide interconnects, which can be created without complex equipment and compensates for misalignment of the components to be connected automatically. Out-coupling toward a photodiode is achieved using a grating coupler. In addition, we present optical characterization results of the components regarding losses and demonstrate signal propagation.