Silicon-based thermo-optical switch insensitive to first three TE modes and optical signal output method
By designing silicon-based thermal optical switches that are insensitive to the first three TE modes, using Mach-Zendel structure and mode-insensitive phase shifter, the optical signal output channel switching control of TE0, TE1, and TE2 modes is achieved, and the solution is solved The problem that existing optical switching devices cannot simultaneously regulate the fundamental mode and higher-order modes improves the flexibility of the optical communication network and reduces power consumption.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411300784.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-18
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing optical switching devices cannot simultaneously realize switching and control of fundamental mode and higher-order modes, which limits their application in mode-division multiplexing systems.
A silicon-based thermal switch that is insensitive to the first three TE modes was designed. Using Mach-Zendel structure and mode-insensitive phase shifter, the phase is changed through the heating power of the metal heating resistor to achieve TE0, TE1, and TE2. Switching and controlling the optical signal output channel in mode.
The switching and control of the upper and lower output ports with low loss and high extinction ratio of the first three TE modes is realized, which improves the flexibility of the optical communication network and reduces power consumption.
Smart Images
Figure CN119165588A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of optical fiber communication, and relates to a silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes and an optical signal output method. Background Art
[0002] With the rise of broadband services such as augmented reality, 5G wireless networks, and cloud computing, global data traffic is growing exponentially, and the capacity of standard single-mode optical fibers is gradually reaching the Shannon limit. In order to increase the capacity and transmission rate of communication systems, multiplexing technologies such as wavelength division multiplexing, polarization multiplexing, and mode division multiplexing are usually used. Among them, researchers have conducted more and more extensive research on mode division multiplexing technology. Mode division multiplexing technology uses multiple mutually orthogonal spatial modes, each of which can be used as an independent channel to expand the capacity of optical fibers by increasing the number of modes. In a mode division multiplexing system, optical switches that realize the exchange of different spatial modes are the key to building a highly flexible optical communication network.
[0003] However, most of the current optical switching devices can only achieve regulation of the fundamental mode, or conversion between the fundamental mode and higher-order modes. They are sensitive to higher-order modes and cannot achieve switching and regulation of both the fundamental mode and higher-order modes at the same time, which in turn limits the application of the devices in mode division multiplexing systems.
[0004] Therefore, when optical signals of multiple modes enter the optical communication network at the same time, if multiple modes can be modulated at the same time, the optical communication network can be made more flexible. Summary of the invention
[0005] TE mode (Transverse Electric Mode) is a common electromagnetic wave mode in rectangular waveguides. In view of the problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a silicon-based thermo-optic switch and an optical signal output method that is insensitive to the first three TE modes.
[0006] For the first three TE mode-insensitive silicon-based thermo-optic switches, one end of the multimode interference coupler 1 is the optical signal input end, and the two ports at the other end are connected to the S-bend waveguide 1 and the S-bend waveguide 2 as output ends respectively. The output ports of the S-bend waveguide 1 and the S-bend waveguide 2 are connected to the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The metal heating resistor 1 and the metal heating resistor 2 are respectively covered on the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The output ports of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2 are connected to the two ports at one end of the multimode interference coupler 2, and the air groove is located in the middle of the two mode-insensitive phase shifters.
[0007] The optical signal output method of a silicon-based thermo-optical switch that is insensitive to the first three TE modes includes the following steps: when TE0 mode, TE1 mode and TE2 mode are input, the output optical signal power changes with the increase of the heating power of the metal heating resistor. When the heating power is 0.009w, the output ports of the optical signals of TE0 mode, TE1 mode and TE2 mode are all changed from the fourth output port to the third output port, wherein the transmission loss of TE0 mode at 1550nm is 0.13dB, and the extinction ratio is 45.2dB, the transmission loss of TE1 mode is 0.45dB, and the extinction ratio is 32.5dB, and the transmission loss of TE2 mode is 0.88dB, and the extinction ratio is 29.4dB.
[0008] The invention has the advantages of: a mode-insensitive thermo-optic switch that can realize simultaneous switching of output ports of the first three TE modes. The thermo-optic switch uses a Mach-Zehnder structure combined with a mode-insensitive phase shifter to realize low-loss, high-extinction ratio switching and regulation of upper and lower output ports of TE0, TE1, and TE2 modes.
[0009] The thermo-optic switch uses a multimode interference coupler 1 that is insensitive to the first three TE modes, a multimode interference coupler 2 that is insensitive to the first three TE modes, a mode-insensitive phase shifter 1, and a mode-insensitive phase shifter 2 to form a Mach-Zehnder structure. By applying voltage to a metal heating resistor 1 to change the phase of the transmitted optical signal in the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1, the output channels of the first three mode optical signals are switched and regulated. The simultaneous switching of the first three TE mode optical signals can be achieved, and the switch has broad application prospects in the field of mode division multiplexing.
[0010] Compared with most mode optical switches, the present invention realizes the mode-insensitive characteristics of the optical switch, and can realize the change of the π phase of the modulation arm of the optical signals of the three modes under the same heating power to complete the switching of the mode output channel. At the same time, the introduction of air grooves can reduce power consumption and realize low-power modulation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions. 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 creative work. As shown in the figure:
[0012] Figure 1 Figure 2 shows the structure of a thermo-optic switch that is insensitive to the first three TE modes.
[0013] Figure 2This is a graph showing the change in the output optical signal power of 093 or 094 as the heating power of the metal heating resistor increases when TE0, TE1, or TE2 modes are input. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The following will be combined with the drawings in 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.
[0015] Example 1: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first three TE mode-insensitive silicon-based thermo-optical switches and optical signal output methods can simultaneously modulate the optical signals of TE0, TE1, and TE2 modes to change the silicon-based mode-insensitive thermo-optical switch of the output channel.
[0016] A silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes comprises a multimode interference coupler insensitive to the first three TE modes, an S-bend waveguide, an S-bend waveguide, a mode-insensitive phase shifter, a mode-insensitive phase shifter, an S-bend waveguide, an S-bend waveguide, a fourth S-bend waveguide, a multimode interference coupler insensitive to the first three TE modes, a metal heating resistor, a metal heating resistor, and an air groove.
[0017] One end of the multimode interference coupler 1 is the optical signal input end, and the two ports at the other end are connected to the S-bend waveguide 1 and 2 as output ends respectively. The output ports of the S-bend waveguide 1 and 2 are connected to the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The metal heating resistor 1 and the metal heating resistor 2 are respectively covered on the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The output ports of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2 are connected to the two ports at one end of the multimode interference coupler 2, and the air groove is located between the two mode-insensitive phase shifters.
[0018] Example 2: Silicon-based thermo-optical switch insensitive to the first three TE modes, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a multimode interference coupler 01 that is insensitive to the first three TE modes, an S-bend waveguide 02, an S-bend waveguide 03, a mode-insensitive phase shifter 04, a mode-insensitive phase shifter 05, an S-bend waveguide 07, an S-bend waveguide 08, a multimode interference coupler 09 that is insensitive to the first three TE modes, a metal heating resistor 06, a metal heating resistor 11, and an air groove 10.
[0019] The first port 011 of the multimode interference coupler 101 is the input port of the optical signal of the TE0, TE1 and TE2 modes. The input optical signal is divided into two equal optical signals at the first output port 013 and the second output port 014 and respectively input into the S-bent waveguide 102 and the S-bent waveguide 203. The output port of the S-bent waveguide 102 is connected to the input port of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 104, the output port of the S-bent waveguide 203 is connected to the input port of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 205. The metal heating resistor 106 covers the mode-insensitive phase shifter 104, the metal heating resistor 211 covers the mode-insensitive phase shifter 205, the output ports of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 104 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 205 are respectively connected to the input ports of the S-bent waveguide 307 and the S-bent waveguide 408, and the output ports of the S-bent waveguide 307 and the S-bent waveguide 408 are respectively connected to the third input port 091 and the fourth input port 092 of the multimode interference coupler 209.
[0020] The output of the optical signal at the third output port 093 or the fourth output port 094 is changed by changing the heating power applied to the metal heating resistor 06 .
[0021] The air trench 10 is located between the first mode-insensitive phase shifter 04 and the second mode-insensitive phase shifter 05 .
[0022] Example 3: Figure 1 The silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes shown in the figure, and the optical signal output method of the silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes, include the following steps: when TE0, TE1, TE2 modes are input, the power of the output optical signal 093 or 094 changes with the increase of heating power. Figure 2 When the heating power is 0.009w, the output ports of the optical signals of the three modes are changed from port 094 to port 093, wherein the transmission loss of TE0 at 1550nm is 0.13dB, the extinction ratio is 45.2dB, the transmission loss of TE1 is 0.45dB, the extinction ratio is 32.5dB, the transmission loss of TE2 is 0.88dB, and the extinction ratio is 29.4dB.
[0023] The multimode interference coupler which is insensitive to the first three TE modes can achieve a 50:50 splitting ratio for the optical signals of TE0, TE1 and TE2 modes at 1550nm.
[0024] When the waveguide temperature changes of the optical signals in TE0, TE1 and TE2 modes at 1550nm are the same, the phase changes of the optical signals in the three modes are the same.
[0025] The output of the optical signal at the third output port 093 or the fourth output port 094 is changed by changing the heating power applied to the metal heating resistor 06 .
[0026] 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 and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes, characterized in that: One end of the multimode interference coupler 1 is the optical signal input end, and the two ports at the other end are connected to the S-bend waveguide 1 and the S-bend waveguide 2 as output ends respectively. The output ports of the S-bend waveguide 1 and the S-bend waveguide 2 are connected to the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The metal heating resistor 1 and the metal heating resistor 2 are respectively covered on the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The output ports of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2 are connected to the two ports at one end of the multimode interference coupler 2, and the air groove is located between the two mode-insensitive phase shifters.
2. The silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first port of the multimode interference coupler 1 is the input port of the optical signal of the TE0, TE1, and TE2 modes. The input optical signal is divided into two equal optical signals at the first output port and the second output port and respectively input into the S-bend waveguide 1 and the S-bend waveguide 2. The output port of the S-bend waveguide 1 is connected to the input port of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1, and the output port of the S-bend waveguide 2 is connected to the input port of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The metal heating resistor 1 and the metal heating resistor 2 are respectively covered on the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2. The output ports of the mode-insensitive phase shifter 1 and the mode-insensitive phase shifter 2 are respectively connected to the input ports of the S-bend waveguide 3 and the S-bend waveguide 4. The output ports of the S-bend waveguide 3 and the S-bend waveguide 4 are respectively connected to the third input port and the fourth input port of the multimode interference coupler 2.
3. The silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: The multimode interference coupler which is insensitive to the first three TE modes realizes a 50:50 splitting ratio for the optical signals of TE0, TE1 and TE2 modes at 1550nm.
4. The silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the waveguide temperature of the optical signals in the TE0, TE1 and TE2 modes at 1550nm changes in the same amount, the phase changes of the optical signals in the three modes are the same.
5. A method for outputting optical signals of a silicon-based thermo-optical switch that is insensitive to the first three TE modes, characterized in that: When TE0 mode, TE1 mode and TE2 mode are input, the output optical signal power changes with the increase of the heating power of the metal heating resistor. When the heating power is 0.009w, the output ports of the optical signals of TE0 mode, TE1 mode and TE2 mode are all changed from the fourth output port to the third output port. Among them, the transmission loss of TE0 mode at 1550nm is 0.13dB, and the extinction ratio is 45.2dB. The transmission loss of TE1 mode is 0.45dB, and the extinction ratio is 32.5dB. The transmission loss of TE2 mode is 0.88dB, and the extinction ratio is 29.4dB.
6. The optical signal output method of the silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes according to claim 5, characterized in that: The multimode interference coupler which is insensitive to the first three TE modes realizes a 50:50 splitting ratio for the optical signals of TE0, TE1 and TE2 modes at 1550nm.
7. The optical signal output method of the silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the waveguide temperature changes of the optical signals in TE0, TE1 and TE2 modes at 1550nm are the same, the phase changes of the optical signals in the three modes are the same.
8. The optical signal output method of the silicon-based thermo-optic switch insensitive to the first three TE modes according to claim 5, characterized in that: The output of the optical signal at the third output port or the fourth output port is changed by changing the heating power applied to the metal heating resistor 1.