A Stamped Mirror to Connect Optical Fibers to Tiny Light Chips
This patent describes a method to precisely connect a standard optical fiber to a tiny light-based computer chip (a photonic integrated circuit) using a specially shaped, stamped mirror that redirects and reshapes the light.
Original patent title: “Optical connection of optical fibers to grating couplers”
This patent describes a method to precisely connect a standard optical fiber to a tiny light-based computer chip (a photonic integrated circuit) using a specially shaped, stamped mirror that redirects and reshapes the light. Granted to Senko Advanced Components in 2025 with 23 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an optical coupling that uses a "stamped optical bench" with a "structured reflective surface" (a mirror) to connect a single-mode optical fiber to a grating coupler on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). This mirror "turns light transmitted between the grating coupler and the optical fiber" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). Crucially, the mirror's "reflective surface profile" is shaped to "reshape the light" (Claim 1) to perfectly match the light coming from the fiber to the grating coupler's "design angle." For example, it can make light from a "flat polished optical fiber" look like it came from an "angled polished optical fiber" (Claim 2), which many existing grating couplers are designed for. The entire "optical bench" and the "fiber alignment structure" are made at the same time by "precision stamping a malleable metal body" (Claim 3).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that use a separate "refractive optical element" (like a lens) between the fiber and the mirror to reshape the light (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 4, 5, 6).
- Does not cover systems where the mirror is not "stamped" or where the fiber alignment structure is not formed "integrally/simultaneously" with the mirror (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3).
- Does not cover using multi-mode optical fibers; it specifically claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → a "single-mode fiber" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover reflective surfaces that are not "three-dimensional concave reflective ellipsoidal" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is using a single, precision-stamped metal part that acts as both a mirror and an alignment structure. This mirror is not just for redirecting light, but its specific "three-dimensional concave reflective ellipsoidal surface profile" actively reshapes the light beam to perfectly match the receiving component, all without needing separate lenses.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
High-speed optical transceivers
Data center interconnects
Telecommunications equipment
Optical sensors
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Connecting optical fibers to photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is a major challenge in modern technology. PICs are becoming central to high-speed data communication and computing. This patent offers a manufacturing-friendly way to achieve precise optical alignment, which is critical for reliable and efficient light transmission in these systems. It addresses a bottleneck in packaging and integration.
Filed
March 16, 2021
Granted
September 23, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Senko Advanced Components, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major player in fiber optic interconnects and passive optical components. Other companies in the optical interconnect space, such as Broadcom, Lumentum, and Coherent, are also active in developing advanced packaging solutions for PICs.
Market impact
This technology aims to simplify and lower the cost of manufacturing high-performance optical connections. By enabling the use of standard flat-polished fibers with existing angled-coupler PICs and streamlining the assembly process through stamping, it could accelerate the adoption of PICs in various applications, particularly in data centers and telecom networks where high volume and cost-efficiency are critical.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an optical coupling that uses a "stamped optical bench" with a "structured reflective surface" (a mirror) to connect a single-mode optical fiber to a grating coupler on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). This mirror "turns light transmitted between the grating coupler and the optical fiber" (Claim 1). Crucially, the mirror's "reflective surface profile" is shaped to "reshape the light" (Claim 1) to perfectly match the light coming from the fiber to the grating coupler's "design angle." For example, it can make light from a "flat polished optical fiber" look like it came from an "angled polished optical fiber" (Claim 2), which many existing grating couplers are designed for. The entire "optical bench" and the "fiber alignment structure" are made at the same time by "precision stamping a malleable metal body" (Claim 3).
The clever bit
The clever bit is using a single, precision-stamped metal part that acts as both a mirror and an alignment structure. This mirror is not just for redirecting light, but its specific "three-dimensional concave reflective ellipsoidal surface profile" actively reshapes the light beam to perfectly match the receiving component, all without needing separate lenses.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that use a separate "refractive optical element" (like a lens) between the fiber and the mirror to reshape the light (Claims 4, 5, 6).
- Does not cover systems where the mirror is not "stamped" or where the fiber alignment structure is not formed "integrally/simultaneously" with the mirror (Claim 3).
- Does not cover using multi-mode optical fibers; it specifically claims a "single-mode fiber" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover reflective surfaces that are not "three-dimensional concave reflective ellipsoidal" (Claim 1).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$44K – $140K
Midpoint $88K · 14.6 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
1 independent claim · 0 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Vallance, R. R., Dannenberg, R. D., LI, S., & Barnoski, M. K. (2025). A Stamped Mirror to Connect Optical Fibers to Tiny Light Chips (U.S. Patent No. 12,422,629). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12422629/optical-connection-of-optical-fibers-to-grating-couplers
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12422629"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 10761280 · 2020 · Cudoquanta Florida
A Sealed, Stamped Metal Assembly for Guiding Light in Fiber Optics
US 12326604 · 2025 · Corning
How Chips Get Both Light and Electricity on a Special Glass Base
US 7267494 · 2007 · Finisar
How a Special Fiber Stub Cleans Up Light Signals
US 20260003141 · AT&S Austria Technologie und Systemtechnik AG
How Chips Talk Fast with Light Inside a Circuit Board
More to explore
More in Telecom & Wireless
US 5347632 · 1994 · Prodigy Services Co
Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping
US 3906166 · 1975 · Motorola Inc
How Early Cell Phones Handled Calls Across Different Towers
US 4063220 · 1977 · Xerox Corp
How Multiple Computers Share a Network Cable Without Crashing
US 4200770 · 1980 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How to Create a Secret Code Key Without Meeting First
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Stamped Mirror to Connect Optical Fibers to Tiny Light Chips cover?
This patent describes a method to precisely connect a standard optical fiber to a tiny light-based computer chip (a photonic integrated circuit) using a specially shaped, stamped mirror that redirects and reshapes the light.
Who owns patent US 12422629?
Senko Advanced Components owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 16, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Connecting optical fibers to photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is a major challenge in modern technology. PICs are becoming central to high-speed data communication and computing. This patent offers a manufacturing-friendly way to achieve precise optical alignment, which is critical for reliable and efficient light transmission in these systems. It addresses a bottleneck in packaging and integration.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that use a separate "refractive optical element" (like a lens) between the fiber and the mirror to reshape the light (Claims 4, 5, 6).
Patent monitoring