Input coupling and guided-wave distribution schemes for board-level intra-chip guided-wave optical clock distribution network using volume grating coupler technology

The input coupling and guided-wave distribution schemes for a novel board-level guided wave optical clock distribution network using volume grating coupler technology are described. Volume grating coupler technology is employed to couple light into the optical waveguide distribution with high efficiency, allowing for compact packaging of the entire optical system and reduced optical input power requirements. A novel single-split-region waveguide distribution network is proposed to allow for larger radii of curvature in the final, smallest-radii levels for reduced bending loss in comparison to a conventional multiple-split-region topology.