Optical couplers having attachment features are disclosed. A typical
coupler according to the present invention couples an optical signal from
an optical fiber to a channel waveguide by overlapping the cores of the
optical fiber and channel waveguide along a portion of their waveguide
lengths, with a spacing distance between the cores of not more than 20
microns for single-mode light coupling, and not more than 100 microns for
multi-mode light coupling. This is in contrast to a prior art coupler,
which seeks to position the ends of the two cores in a facing
relationship. In embodiments according to the present invention,
attachment films may be disposed in the overlapping regions to provide
advantageous coupling arrangements and new types of opto-electric
devices.