A wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology

Abstract

The present invention proposes a wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology, including a laser collimation subcomponent, an arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent, and an output optical fiber; the laser collimation subcomponent is formed by solidifying a laser chip and a laser collimating lens array, and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent is formed by solidifying an arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array, an arrayed waveguide grating, and an arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array. The present invention integrates two discrete modules in a traditional wavelength division multiplexing optical component, thereby meeting the development demand for further miniaturization of the module, while streamlining materials and reducing costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical communication technology, and in particular to a wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on array waveguide grating technology. Background Art

[0002] With the development of 5G and data centers, communication systems have increasingly higher requirements for optical communication transmission rates, and have put forward more stringent requirements on optical module size, cost, etc. Therefore, the demand for parallel transmission optical modules has grown rapidly, especially parallel transmission optical modules based on wavelength division multiplexing technology, which have received special attention due to their large bandwidth capacity and long transmission distance.

[0003] The existing wavelength division multiplexing optical component optical path form based on arrayed waveguide grating technology generally adopts the method of coupling the arrayed waveguide grating with the optical fiber array into a module, coupling several laser chips with several optical fiber components into a module, and then connecting the two separate modules through optical fibers into an optical component. In this structural form, the two separate modules need to use a large number of metal structural parts, which is not only not conducive to the miniaturization of the optical module size, but also brings challenges to further reducing the cost of the module. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention proposes a wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on array waveguide grating technology to solve the problem that the traditional wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on array waveguide grating technology adopts a two-discrete module structure, which is not conducive to miniaturization of optical module size and cost reduction.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows: the present invention provides a wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology, comprising a laser collimation subcomponent, an arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent, and an output optical fiber; the laser collimation subcomponent is formed by solidifying a laser chip and a laser collimation lens array, and the laser chip is located on the focal plane of the laser collimation lens array; the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent is formed by solidifying an arrayed waveguide grating collimation lens array, an arrayed waveguide grating, and an arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array, and the output optical fiber, the arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array and the arrayed waveguide grating are actively coupled, and the arrayed waveguide grating is located on the focal plane of the arrayed waveguide grating collimation lens array; the laser collimation lens array, the arrayed waveguide grating collimation lens array, the arrayed waveguide grating, the arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array, and the output optical fiber are sequentially arranged on the output optical path of the laser chip; the laser collimation subcomponent is actively coupled to the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent.

[0006] Optionally, the wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology also includes an optical isolator, which is located between the laser collimating lens array and the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array, and the laser collimating subcomponent, the optical isolator and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent are actively coupled.

[0007] Optionally, the wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology also includes a Y-direction compensation wedge block and an X-direction compensation wedge block, and the Y-direction compensation wedge block and the X-direction compensation wedge block are both inserted into the optical path between the laser collimating lens array and the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array.

[0008] Optionally, the distance between the apex angle of the Y-direction compensation wedge block and the X-direction compensation wedge block and the distance between the light emitting area of ​​the laser chip and the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array satisfies:

[0009] (n-1)*α=arctan(Δd / f)

[0010] Wherein, n is the refractive index of the Y-direction compensation wedge block and the X-direction compensation wedge block, α is the vertex angle of the Y-direction compensation wedge block and the X-direction compensation wedge block, Δd is the distance that the light-emitting area of ​​the laser chip deviates from the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array, and f is the focal length of the laser collimating lens array.

[0011] Optionally, the top angles of the Y-direction compensation wedge block and the X-direction compensation wedge block satisfy:

[0012] α=(n-1)θemax

[0013] Wherein, n is the refractive index of the Y-direction compensation wedge block and the X-direction compensation wedge block, α is the vertex angle of the Y-direction compensation wedge block and the X-direction compensation wedge block, and θemax is the optical path inclination angle introduced by the compensation wedge block when the laser chip and the laser collimating lens array are worst matched.

[0014] Optionally, the laser collimating lens array and / or the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array is a molded aspheric lens array or an etched silicon-based aspheric lens array.

[0015] Optionally, the laser chip is a component in which a plurality of integrated chip arrays are arranged at a fixed pitch, or a single chip is wired through patch bonding and arranged at a fixed pitch.

[0016] The wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology of the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0017] (1) The present invention integrates two discrete modules in the traditional wavelength division multiplexing optical component, thereby meeting the development demand for further miniaturization of the module and streamlining materials, thereby reducing costs;

[0018] (2) Due to the existence of processing tolerance and installation tolerance, the optical axes of the laser collimation subcomponent and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent are inevitably laterally misaligned and tilted. The present invention uses a collimated optical path, and the collimated optical path has a very large tolerance for lateral misalignment. Therefore, the wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on the arrayed waveguide grating technology in the present invention has a very large tolerance for lateral misalignment of the optical path;

[0019] (3) After obtaining the deviation angle of each collimated signal light relative to the central optical axis, the present invention can insert a Y-direction compensation wedge block and an X-direction compensation wedge block into each optical signal path, and replace the wedge blocks with different vertex angles to compensate for the optical path deflection angle, so that each optical signal can achieve the best coupling efficiency, thereby improving the product yield, and correspondingly reducing the accuracy requirements for the mechanical positioning of the wavelength division multiplexing optical component and the processing accuracy requirements for the parts, which is easy to implement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a front view of the wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on the arrayed waveguide grating technology of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 A top view of a wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of lateral misalignment of the collimated light path of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the relationship between the distance of the light emitting area of ​​the laser chip of the present invention deviating from the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array and the tilt angle of the light beam deviating from the optical axis;

[0025] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the compensating wedge block of the present invention introducing optical path deflection.

[0026] Description of reference numerals:

[0027] 10-laser collimation subcomponent; 101-laser chip; 102-laser collimation lens array; 20-optical isolator; 30-Y-axis compensation wedge block; 40-X-axis compensation wedge block; 50-arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent; 501-arrayed waveguide grating collimation lens array; 502-arrayed waveguide grating; 503-arrayed waveguide grating coupled fiber lens array; 60-output optical fiber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following will be combined with the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, combined Figure 2 The wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology of the present invention comprises a laser collimating subcomponent 10, an arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50, and an output optical fiber 60; the laser collimating subcomponent 10 is formed by solidifying a laser chip 101 and a laser collimating lens array 102, and the laser chip 101 is located on the focal plane of the laser collimating lens array 102; the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50 is formed by solidifying an arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501, an arrayed waveguide grating 502, and an arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array 503, and the output optical fiber 60 is output optical fiber 60; the laser collimating subcomponent 1 ... The output optical fiber 60, the arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array 503 and the arrayed waveguide grating 502 are actively coupled, and the arrayed waveguide grating 502 is located on the focal plane of the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501; the laser collimating lens array 102, the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501, the arrayed waveguide grating 502, the arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array 503, and the output optical fiber 60 are sequentially arranged on the output optical path of the laser chip 101; the laser collimating subcomponent 10 and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50 are actively coupled.

[0030] In this embodiment, the laser chip 101 and the laser collimating lens array 102 are pre-actively adjusted so that the laser chip 101 is located on the focal plane of the laser collimating lens array 102, and then glue is dispensed and cured to form the laser collimating subcomponent 10; the output optical fiber 60, the arrayed waveguide grating coupling optical fiber lens array 503 and the arrayed waveguide grating 502 are actively coupled, and the relative positions of the three are cured, and then the arrayed waveguide grating 502 and the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501 are actively adjusted so that the arrayed waveguide grating 502 is located on the focal plane of the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501, and glue is dispensed and cured to form the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50; the laser collimating subcomponent 10 is placed in the optical path, the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50 is actively coupled, and the relative positions of the laser collimating subcomponent 10 and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50 are glued and cured after the optical signals of each path reach the maximum average coupling efficiency.

[0031] Signal lights of different wavelengths are emitted from the laser chip 101, and become collimated lights after passing through the laser collimating lens array 102. The arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501 couples the collimated lights into the arrayed waveguide grating 502. After passing through the arrayed waveguide grating 502, several signal lights of different wavelengths are multiplexed into one output port, and are coupled to the output optical fiber 60 through the arrayed waveguide grating coupling fiber lens array 503 for output.

[0032] Thus, the present embodiment integrates two discrete modules in the conventional wavelength division multiplexing optical component, thereby meeting the development demand for further miniaturization of the module, and at the same time can simplify materials, thereby reducing costs; secondly, due to the existence of processing tolerances and assembly tolerances, the optical axes of the laser collimation subcomponent 10 and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50 are bound to be lateral misaligned and tilted. The present embodiment uses a collimated optical path, and the collimated optical path has a very large tolerance for lateral misalignment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on the arrayed waveguide grating technology in this embodiment has a very large tolerance for lateral misalignment of the optical path.

[0033] Optional, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on the arrayed waveguide grating technology further includes an optical isolator 20, which is located between the laser collimating lens array 102 and the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501, and the laser collimating subcomponent 10, the optical isolator 20 and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent 50 are actively coupled. The optical isolator 20 only allows light to propagate from the laser collimating lens array 102 to the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501, thereby avoiding the influence of the return light on the laser chip 101.

[0034] Optional, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on the arrayed waveguide grating technology also includes a Y-direction compensation wedge block 30 and an X-direction compensation wedge block 40. The Y-direction compensation wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensation wedge block 40 are both inserted into the optical path between the laser collimating lens array 102 and the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501.

[0035] In this embodiment, the insufficient mechanical positioning accuracy of the wavelength division multiplexing optical component will cause the deviation of the optical path. If the optical path is not compensated, the processing accuracy and mechanical positioning accuracy of the wavelength division multiplexing optical component parts must be high enough. In this embodiment, the Y-direction compensation wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensation wedge block 40 are used to compensate for the inclination angles of the collimated light beam emitted by the laser collimating lens array 102 in the X and Y directions. In the optical path of this embodiment, the deviation angle of each collimated signal light relative to the central optical axis can be estimated. After obtaining the deviation angle, the Y-direction compensation wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensation wedge block 40 are respectively inserted into each optical signal optical path, and the wedge blocks with different vertex angles are replaced to compensate for the deflection angle of the optical path, so that each optical signal can achieve the best coupling efficiency to improve the product yield, and correspondingly reduce the accuracy requirements of the mechanical positioning of the wavelength division multiplexing optical component and the processing accuracy requirements of the parts, which is easy to implement.

[0036] Optionally, the apex angles of the Y-direction compensating wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensating wedge block 40 and the distance of the light-emitting area of ​​the laser chip 101 from the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array 102 satisfy:

[0037] (n-1)*α=arctan(Δd / f)

[0038] Wherein, n is the refractive index of the Y-direction compensating wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensating wedge block 40, α is the vertex angle of the Y-direction compensating wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensating wedge block 40, Δd is the distance that the light-emitting area of ​​the laser chip 101 deviates from the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array 102, and f is the focal length of the laser collimating lens array 102.

[0039] like Figure 4 As shown, when the light-emitting area of ​​the laser chip 101 deviates from the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array 102 by a distance Δd, the inclination angle of the light beam deviating from the optical axis is θe≈arctan(Δd / f). At this time, even if the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array 102 strictly coincides with the optical axis of the subsequent array waveguide grating collimating lens array 501, the tilted light beam will still introduce an extremely sensitive factor affecting the coupling efficiency. Therefore, the system's sensitivity to the tilt angle of the light beam far exceeds its sensitivity to the lateral misalignment of the light beam. In order to solve the high sensitivity of the system's coupling efficiency to the tilt angle of the light beam, an X / Y direction compensation wedge block is added to compensate for the corresponding X / Y direction beam tilt angle. When the top angle of the wedge block is α, the beam tilt angle θp introduced by the wedge block is ≈(n-1)*α, as shown in Figure 5 As shown in the figure, when the commonly used K9 glass is selected for the X / Y direction wedge angle block, n=1.5, θp≈0.5*α, if the beam tilt is to be fully compensated, θp=θe, so as to calculate α and select the compensation wedge angle block. In this way, the wedge angle blocks with different vertex angles can be replaced according to the obtained Δd to compensate for the light path deflection angle, so as to achieve the best coupling efficiency for each optical signal.

[0040] Optionally, the top angles of the Y-direction compensating wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensating wedge block 40 satisfy:

[0041] α=(n-1)θemax

[0042] Wherein, n is the refractive index of the Y-direction compensating wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensating wedge block 40, α is the vertex angle of the Y-direction compensating wedge block 30 and the X-direction compensating wedge block 40, and θemax is the optical path inclination angle introduced by the compensating wedge block when the laser chip 101 and the laser collimating lens array 102 are worst matched.

[0043] In actual production, it is not possible to continuously change the top angle of the wedge block to meet the precise compensation. Therefore, the beam tilt angle introduced when the laser chip 101 and the laser collimating lens array 102 are in the worst match is θemax, corresponding to α=(n-1)θemax, and multiple discrete points can be selected, such as α is 1 / 4θemax, 1 / 2θemax, 3 / 4θemax, θemax, where θemax can be obtained from the experimental data when the laser chip 101 and the laser collimating lens array 102 are in the worst match, and can be used as a known value. In this way, this embodiment can perform the most free and preferred compensation for the beam tilt angle when the top angle of the wedge block cannot be continuously changed to meet the precise compensation.

[0044] Optionally, the laser collimating lens array 102 and / or the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array 501 is a molded aspheric lens array or an etched silicon-based aspheric lens array. The tolerance and cost of the molded lens are lower than those of the etched silicon-based lens, but the etched silicon-based lens has high precision and can be selected according to actual needs.

[0045] Optionally, the laser chip 101 is a component in which a plurality of integrated chip arrays are arranged at a fixed pitch or a single chip is wired through patch bonding and arranged at a fixed pitch. Among them, the position of the chip in the integrated chip array is fixed and no longer needs to be placed, which is convenient to use, but its price is relatively expensive; the price of a single chip is cheap but it is inconvenient to place, and it can be selected according to actual needs.

[0046] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology, characterized in that: The invention comprises a laser collimation subcomponent (10), an arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent (50), and an output optical fiber (60); the laser collimation subcomponent (10) is formed by solidifying a laser chip (101) and a laser collimation lens array (102), and the laser chip (101) is located on the focal plane of the laser collimation lens array (102); the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent (50) is formed by solidifying an arrayed waveguide grating collimation lens array (501), an arrayed waveguide grating (502), and an arrayed waveguide grating coupled optical fiber lens array (503); the output optical fiber (60), the arrayed waveguide grating The grating-coupled optical fiber lens array (503) is actively coupled with the arrayed waveguide grating (502), and the arrayed waveguide grating (502) is located on the focal plane of the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array (501); the laser collimating lens array (102), the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array (501), the arrayed waveguide grating (502), the arrayed waveguide grating-coupled optical fiber lens array (503), and the output optical fiber (60) are sequentially arranged on the output optical path of the laser chip (101); the laser collimating subcomponent (10) is actively coupled with the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent (50); It also includes an optical isolator (20), which is located between the laser collimating lens array (102) and the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array (501), and the laser collimating subcomponent (10), the optical isolator (20) and the arrayed waveguide grating subcomponent (50) are actively coupled; It also includes a Y-direction compensating wedge angle block (30) and an X-direction compensating wedge angle block (40), and the Y-direction compensating wedge angle block (30) and the X-direction compensating wedge angle block (40) are both inserted into the optical path between the laser collimating lens array (102) and the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array (501); The distance between the apex angle of the Y-direction compensating wedge angle block (30) and the X-direction compensating wedge angle block (40) and the light-emitting area of ​​the laser chip (101) deviating from the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array (102) satisfies: (n-1)*α=arctan(Δd / f) Wherein, n is the refractive index of the Y-direction compensating wedge block (30) and the X-direction compensating wedge block (40), α is the vertex angle of the Y-direction compensating wedge block (30) and the X-direction compensating wedge block (40), Δd is the distance of the light emitting area of ​​the laser chip (101) away from the optical axis of the laser collimating lens array (102), and f is the focal length of the laser collimating lens array (102); The apex angles of the Y-direction compensating wedge block (30) and the X-direction compensating wedge block (40) satisfy: α=(n-1)θemax Wherein, n is the refractive index of the Y-direction compensating wedge block (30) and the X-direction compensating wedge block (40), α is the vertex angle of the Y-direction compensating wedge block (30) and the X-direction compensating wedge block (40), and θemax is the optical path inclination angle introduced by the compensating wedge block when the laser chip (101) and the laser collimating lens array (102) are in the worst fit.

2. The wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The laser collimating lens array (102) and / or the arrayed waveguide grating collimating lens array (501) is a molded aspheric lens array or an etched silicon-based aspheric lens array.

3. The wavelength division multiplexing optical component based on arrayed waveguide grating technology as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The laser chip (101) is a component in which a plurality of integrated chip arrays are arranged at a fixed pitch, or a single chip is wired through patch bonding and arranged at a fixed pitch.

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