Dr. Jan Watté Profile

Dr. Jan Watté

Development Manager at CommScope Inc

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (18)

Proceedings Article | 15 March 2023 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Low-power actuators for programmable photonic processors

Umar Khan, Iman Zand, Lukas Van Iseghem, Pierre Edinger, Gaehun Jo, Simon Bleiker, Alain Yuji Takabayashi, Cleitus Antony, Moises Jezzini, Giuseppe Talli, Hamed Sattari, Jun Su Lee, Arun Kumar Mallik, Peter Verheyen, Cristina Lerma Arce, Marco Garcia, Tigers Jonuzi, Ewout Picavet, K. P. Nagarjun, Jan Watté, Niels Quack, Frank Niklaus, Kristinn Gylfason, Klaartje De Buysser, Jeroen Beeckman, Wim Bogaerts

Proceedings Volume 12438, 124380K (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2647371

KEYWORDS: Waveguides, Microelectromechanical systems, Phase shifts, Liquid crystals, Silicon photonics, Silicon, Photonic integrated circuits, Electrodes, Oxides, Back end of line

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 26 May 2022 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

MORPHIC: MEMS enhanced silicon photonics for programmable photonics

Umar Khan, Iman Zand, Pierre Edinger, Gaehun Jo, Simon Bleiker, Alain Yuji Takabayashi, Cleitus Antony, Moises Jezzini, Giuseppe Talli, Hamed Sattari, Jun Su Lee, Arun Kumar Mallik, Peter Verheyen, Saurav Kumar, Cristina Lerma Arce, Marco Garcia, Tigers Jonuzi, Jan Watte, Niels Quack, Frank Niklaus, Kristinn Gylfason, Wim Bogaerts

Proceedings Volume 12148, 121480H (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2631231

KEYWORDS: Microelectromechanical systems, Silicon photonics, Photonics, Phase shifts, Waveguides, Silicon, Photonic integrated circuits, Scanning electron microscopy, Electronics, Semiconducting wafers

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 30 March 2020 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Mode-field matching design, 3D fabrication and characterization of down-tapers on single-mode optical fiber tips for coupling to photonic integrated circuits

Koen Vanmol, Kumar Saurav, Vivek Panapakkam, Dries Van Thourhout, Hugo Thienpont, Nathalie Vermeulen, Jan Watté, Jürgen Van Erps

Proceedings Volume 11349, 1134907 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2555770

KEYWORDS: Single mode fibers, Photonic integrated circuits, Waveguides, Two photon polymerization, Optical fibers, Silicon, Fiber couplers, Structured optical fibers, Integrated circuit design, Interfaces

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 17 September 2018 Paper

Paper

Relaxing alignment tolerance in single-mode fiber connections using 3D nanoprinted beam expanders

Koen Vanmol, Salvatore Tuccio, Vivek Panapakkam, Hugo Thienpont, Jan Watté, Jürgen Van Erps

Proceedings Volume 10746, 107460F (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2320983

KEYWORDS: Optical fibers, Tolerancing, Single mode fibers, Optical alignment, Connectors, Photoresist materials, Beam expanders, Polymers

Read Abstract +

SPIE Journal Paper | 22 July 2016

Hot-embossing replication of self-centering optical fiber alignment structures prototyped by deep proton writing

Evert Ebraert, Markus Wissmann, Markus Guttmann, Alexander Kolew, Matthias Worgull, Nicole Barié, Marc Schneider, Andreas Hofmann, Stefano Beri, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont, Jürgen Van Erps

OE, Vol. 55, Issue 07, 076112, (July 2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.OE.55.7.076112

KEYWORDS: Polymethylmethacrylate, Prototyping, Connectors, Optical alignment, Optical fibers, Silicon, Single mode fibers, Surface roughness, Structured optical fibers, Micro cutting

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 27 April 2016 Paper

Paper

Plasma treatment of fiber facets for increased (de)mating endurance in physical contact fiber connectors

Jürgen Van Erps, Kevin Voss, Martijn De Witte, Radu Radulescu, Stefano Beri, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 9888, 98880K (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2225230

KEYWORDS: Plasma, Fiber to the x, Plasma treatment, Optical fibers, Internet, Electrodes, Spherical lenses, Photonics, Fusion splicing

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 27 April 2016 Paper

Paper

Replication of self-centering optical fiber alignment structures using hot embossing

Evert Ebraert, Markus Wissmann, Nicole Barié, Markus Guttmann, Marc Schneider, Alexander Kolew, Matthias Worgull, Stefano Beri, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont, Jürgen Van Erps

Proceedings Volume 9888, 98880M (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2227685

KEYWORDS: Connectors, Electroplating, Single mode fibers, Connectors, Nickel, Surface roughness, Adhesives, Copper

Read Abstract +

With the demand for broadband connectivity on the rise due to various services like video-on-demand and cloud computing becoming more popular, the need for better connectivity infrastructure is high. The only future- proof option to supply this infrastructure is to deploy "fiber to the home" (FTTH) networks. One of the main difficulties with the deployment of FTTH is the vast amount of single-mode fiber (SMF) connections that need to be made. Hence there is a strong need for components which enable high performance, robust and easy-to- use SMF connectors. Since large-scale deployment is the goal, these components should be mass-producible at low cost. We discuss a rapid prototyping process on the basis of hot embossing replication of a self-centering alignment system (SCAS) based on three micro-springs, which can position a SMF independently of its diameter. This is beneficial since there is a fabrication tolerance of up to ±1 μm on a standard G.652 SMF's diameter that can lead to losses if the outer diameter is used as a reference for alignment. The SCAS is first prototyped with deep proton writing (DPW) in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) after which it is glued to a copper substrate with an adhesive. Using an electroforming process, a nickel block is grown over the PMMA prototype followed by mechanical finishing to fabricate a structured nickel mould insert. Even though the mould insert shows non- ideal and rounded features it is used to create PMMA replicas of the SCAS by means of hot embossing. The SCAS possesses a central opening in which a bare SMF can be clamped, which is designed with a diameter of 121 μm. PMMA replicas are dimensionally characterized using a multisensor coordinate measurement machine and show a central opening diameter of 128.3 ± 2.8 μm. This should be compared to the central opening diameter of the DPW prototype used for mould formation which was measured to be 120.5 μm. This shows that the electroforming and subsequent replication process is possible for complex micro-scale components and could be accurate after optimisation. We characterized the sidewall roughness of PMMA replicas using a non- contact optical profiler, resulting in a root-mean-square roughness of 48 nm over an area of 63.7 μm×47.8 μm. This low sidewall roughness is especially important in the replication of high aspect ratio structures to facilitate demoulding since the sidewalls cause the most friction with the mould insert.

SPIE Journal Paper | 6 October 2014

Optomechanical design of a buckling cavity in a low-cost high-performance ferruleless field-installable single-mode fiber connector

Evert Ebraert, Jürgen Van Erps, Stefano Beri, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont

OE, Vol. 53, Issue 10, 106102, (October 2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.OE.53.10.106102

KEYWORDS: Single mode fibers, Optical fibers, Connectors, Cladding, Finite element methods, Optomechanical design, Fiber to the x, Silica, Refractive index, Optical engineering

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 2 May 2014 Paper

Paper

Self-centering fiber alignment structures for high-precision field installable single-mode fiber connectors

Jürgen Van Erps, Evert Ebraert, Fei Gao, Michael Vervaeke, Francis Berghmans, Stefano Beri, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 9130, 91300K (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2051332

KEYWORDS: Optical alignment, Connectors, Structured optical fibers, Internet, Fiber to the x, Prototyping, Cladding, Polymethylmethacrylate, Etching, Finite element methods

Read Abstract +

There is a steady increase in the demand for internet bandwidth, primarily driven by cloud services and high-definition video streaming. Europe's Digital Agenda states the ambitious objective that by 2020 all Europeans should have access to internet at speeds of 30Mb/s or above, with 50% or more of households subscribing to connections of 100Mb/s. Today however, internet access in Europe is mainly based on the first generation of broadband, meaning internet accessed over legacy telephone copper and TV cable networks. In recent years, Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) networks have been adopted as a replacement of traditional electrical connections for the `last mile' transmission of information at bandwidths over 1Gb/s. However, FTTH penetration is still very low (< 5%) in most major Western economies. The main reason for this is the high deployment cost of FTTH networks. Indeed, the success and adoption of optical access networks critically depend on the quality and reliability of connections between optical fibers. In particular a further reduction of insertion loss of field- installable connectors must be achieved without a significant increase in component cost. This requires precise alignment of fibers that can differ in terms of ellipticity, eccentricity or diameter and seems hardly achievable using today's widespread ferrule-based alignment systems. In this paper, we present a field-installable connector based on deflectable/compressible spring structures, providing a self-centering functionality for the fiber. This way, it can accommodate for possible fiber cladding diameter variations (the tolerance on the cladding diameter of G.652 fiber is typically ±0.7μm). The mechanical properties of the cantilever are derived through an analytical approximation and a mathematical model of the spring constant, and finite element-based simulations are carried out to find the maximum first principal stress as well as the stress distribution distribution in the fiber alignment structure. Elastic constants of the order of 104N=m are found to be compatible with a proof stress of 70 M Pa. We show the successful prototyping of 3-spring fiber alignment structures using deep proton writing and investigate their compatibility with replication techniques such as hot embossing and injection moulding. Fiber insertion in our self-centering alignment structures is achieved by means of a dedicated interferometric setup allowing assessment of the fiber facet quality, of the fiber's position in relation to the connector's front and of the spring deformation during fiber insertion. These self-centering structures have the potential to become the basic building blocks for a new generation of field-installable connectors, ultimately breaking the current paradigm of ferrule-based connectivity requiring extensive pre-engineering and highly specialized manpower for field deployment.

Proceedings Article | 2 May 2014 Paper

Paper

Opto-mechanical design of a buckling cavity in a novel high-performance outside-plant robust field installable single-mode fibre connector

Evert Ebraert, Jürgen Van Erps, Stefano Beri, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 9130, 91300L (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2052222

KEYWORDS: Single mode fibers, Connectors, Cladding, Fiber to the x, Finite element methods, Refractive index, Silica, Optomechanical design, Shape analysis, Tolerancing

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 1 May 2014 Paper

Paper

Advanced simulation tool for optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) with arbitrary pulse shapes

Benjamin Feigel, Jürgen Van Erps, Mulham Khoder, Michael Vervaeke, Stefano Beri, Kristof Jeuris, Danny Van Goidsenhoven, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 9131, 91310V (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2051403

KEYWORDS: Signal attenuation, Sensors, Backscatter, Computer simulations, Optical networks, Connectors, Optical simulations, Instrument modeling, Optical testing, Solids

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 9 May 2012 Paper

Paper

Design and fabrication of advanced fiber alignment structures for field-installable fiber connectors

Jürgen Van Erps, Michael Vervaeke, Alberto Sánchez Martínez, Stefano Beri, Christof Debaes, Jan Watté, Hugo Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 8428, 84280I (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922245

KEYWORDS: Structured optical fibers, Connectors, Optical alignment, Prototyping, Polymethylmethacrylate, Fiber to the x, Monte Carlo methods, Optical fibers, Etching, Internet

Read Abstract +

Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) networks have been adopted as a potential replacement of traditional electrical connections for the 'last mile' transmission of information at bandwidths over 1Gb/s. However, the success and adoption of optical access networks critically depend on the quality and reliability of connections between optical fibers. In particular a further reduction of insertion loss of field-installable connectors must be achieved without a significant increase in component cost. This requires precise alignment of fibers that can differ in terms of ellipticity, eccentricity or diameter and seems hardly achievable using today's widespread ferrule-based alignment systems. Novel low-cost structures for bare fiber alignment with outstanding positioning accuracies are strongly desired as they would allow reducing loss beyond the level achievable with ferrule-bore systems. However, the realization of such alignment system is challenging as it should provide sufficient force to position the fiber with sub-micron accuracy required in positioning the fiber. In this contribution we propose, design and prototype a bare-fiber alignment system which makes use of deflectable/compressible micro-cantilevers. Such cantilevers behave as springs and provide self-centering functionality to the structure. Simulations of the mechanical properties of the cantilevers are carried out in order to get an analytical approximation and a mathematical model of the spring constant and stress in the structure. Elastic constants of the order of 10⁴ to 10⁵N/m are found out to be compatible with a proof stress of 70 MPa. Finally a first self-centering structure is prototyped in PMMA using our Deep Proton Writing technology. The spring constants of the fabricated cantilevers are in the range of 4 to 6 × 10⁴N/m and the stress is in the range 10 to 20 MPa. These self-centering structures have the potential to become the basic building blocks for a new generation of field-installable connectors.

Proceedings Article | 13 May 2010 Paper

Paper

Potential applications of micro-optic technology for next-generation fibre optic connectivity solutions exploitable in access networks

Jan Watté, Rainer Petersen

Proceedings Volume 7716, 771612 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.859082

KEYWORDS: Connectors, Structured optical fibers, Particles, Pollution, Optical simulations, Fiber to the x, Optical alignment, Optical fibers, Fusion splicing, Micro optics

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 14 May 2008 Paper

Paper

A low loss 180 degrees coupling fiber socket making use of low bending loss hole-assisted fiber

J. Van Erps, C. Debaes, T. Nasilowski, P. Mergo, J. Wojcik, T. Aerts, H. Terryn, J. Watté, H. Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 6992, 699204 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.778649

KEYWORDS: Connectors, Single mode fibers, Cladding, Fiber to the x, Waveguides, Fiber couplers, Optical fibers, Prototyping, Polymers, Scanning electron microscopy

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 21 April 2006 Paper

Paper

Design, fabrication, and characterization of a low-cost lens-based fibre connector for passive optical networks

C. Ruwisch, Y. Meuret, J. Van Erps, B. Volckaerts, H. Thienpont, J. Watté

Proceedings Volume 6185, 618513 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.661898

KEYWORDS: Connectors, Tolerancing, Prisms, Beam propagation method, Gaussian beams, Optical simulations, Fiber couplers, Spherical lenses, Passive optical networks, Assembly tolerances

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 8 September 2004 Paper

Paper

A cost-effective packaging for the environmental hardening of passive optical devices

Jan Watte, Sam Leeman, Luc Swinnen, Danny Van Goidsenhoven, Daniel Daems

Proceedings Volume 5454, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.545909

KEYWORDS: Packaging, Wavelength division multiplexing, Planar waveguides, Optical components, Reliability, Coarse wavelength division multiplexing, Waveguides, Aluminum, Optical filters, Network architectures

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 16 August 2004 Paper

Paper

Deep lithography with protons as an alternative fabrication technology for high-precision 2D fiber connector components

Bart Volckaerts, Rafal Krajewski, Pedro Vynck, Heidi Ottevaere, Jan Watte, Daniel Daems, Alex Hermanne, Hugo Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 5455, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.547719

KEYWORDS: Connectors, Digital Light Processing, Single mode fibers, Polymethylmethacrylate, Tolerancing, Spherical lenses, Lithography, Optical alignment, Fiber couplers, Silicon

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 3 October 2003 Paper

Paper

Optimizing deep lithography with protons for the fabrication of 2D fiber alignment structures

Rafal Krajewski, Bart Volckaerts, Heidi Ottevaere, Pedro Vynck, Jan Watte, Daniel Daems, Malgorzata Kujawinska, Alex Hermanne, Hugo Thienpont

Proceedings Volume 5145, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.501255

KEYWORDS: Etching, Optical alignment, Polymethylmethacrylate, Lithography, Structured optical fibers, Digital Light Processing, Spherical lenses, Fiber couplers, Fabrication, Silicon

Read Abstract +

Showing 5 of 18 publications

SIGN IN TO:

View contact details

UPDATE YOUR PROFILE

Is this your profile? Update it now.

Sign into your SPIE.org account

Don’t have a profile and want one?

Create an account on SPIE.org

Advertisement

Advertisement