Laser transmitter and optical communication equipment
By combining the design of laser chips and gain chips in the laser emitter, the problem of insufficient optical power is solved, and efficient optical signal amplification and monitoring is achieved, ensuring long-distance and high-speed optical communication transmission.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420530058.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-03-14
AI Technical Summary
In the prior art, there is a problem that insufficient optical power can lead to the inability to transmit signals, especially in long-distance optical communication links.
A laser emitter is designed, including a laser chip and a gain chip, which couples the laser to the gain chip through a coupling lens for amplification, and monitors the optical power through a spectroscopic prism and induction chip, and the temperature control component ensures that the device operates within the appropriate temperature range.
Through the amplification of the gain chip, the optical power of the laser is significantly improved, which can effectively compensate for the attenuation of the optical signal during the transmission process, improve the signal intensity and quality, avoid the need to set up EDFA in the communication link, and ensure the successful long-distance and high-speed optical communication transmission.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of laser emission, in particular to a laser emitter and optical communication equipment. Background Art
[0002] In the field of optical communications, in order to overcome the problem of optical power attenuation caused by insertion loss in long-distance communication links, stronger laser devices are used at the transmitting end to generate higher-power optical signals to compensate for the problem of gradual weakening of the signal due to insertion loss and attenuation during transmission, ensuring that the receiving end can obtain a strong enough optical signal for correct decoding and processing, thereby ensuring the communication quality and distance requirements.
[0003] Currently, because the optical signal power output by the transmitter is not high enough, it is necessary to use EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier) in the optical communication system. EDFA plays a role similar to a repeater in the optical communication system. Once an EDFA module fails, the entire link will have insufficient optical power and the signal cannot be transmitted. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the utility model is to provide a laser transmitter and an optical communication device to solve the problem in the prior art that insufficient optical power may lead to failure in signal transmission.
[0005] The utility model discloses a laser transmitter, comprising:
[0006] Laser chip, used to generate laser light;
[0007] A gain chip, located at the light-emitting side of the laser chip, is used to amplify the laser light before emitting it, and the amplification factor of the gain chip can be controlled by the size of the injected current;
[0008] A coupling lens is located between the laser chip and the gain chip, and is used to couple the laser emitted by the laser chip to the gain chip.
[0009] Optionally, the laser transmitter further includes:
[0010] The beam splitter prism is located on the light output side of the gain chip and is used to split the amplified laser into two parts and emit them in different directions. The larger portion of the two parts of laser light is used as the output laser of the laser emitter, and the smaller portion is used as the detection light of the output laser.
[0011] Optionally, the laser transmitter further includes:
[0012] The sensing chip is located on the side of the beam splitter prism from which the smaller portion of the laser is emitted, and is used to receive the smaller portion of the laser and monitor the output optical power of the laser emission according to the smaller portion of the laser.
[0013] Optionally, the laser transmitter further includes:
[0014] The temperature control component is used to detect and control the temperature inside the laser emitter.
[0015] Optionally, the temperature control component comprises:
[0016] a thermistor for detecting the current temperature in the laser transmitter;
[0017] A refrigerator is connected to the thermistor and is used to perform a cooling operation according to the current temperature.
[0018] Optionally, the laser transmitter further includes:
[0019] A chip carrier, the laser chip and the gain chip are mounted on the upper surface of the chip carrier, the lower surface of the chip carrier is in contact with the refrigerator, and the chip carrier is made of a heat-conducting material;
[0020] A lens groove is arranged on the chip carrier, and the coupling lens is installed in the lens groove.
[0021] Optionally, the laser transmitter further includes:
[0022] A U-shaped base, the sensing chip is arranged on the bottom surface of the U-shaped base, the beam splitter prism is mounted on the two upper end surfaces of the U-shaped base, and the U-shaped base is made of insulating and heat-conductive material;
[0023] The lower surface of the U-shaped base is in contact with the refrigerator.
[0024] Optionally, the beam splitter prism includes two triangular prisms, the oblique surfaces of the two triangular prisms are glued together, one of the oblique surfaces is coated with a partial reflective film, and when the laser is irradiated to the partial reflective film, a part of it can be emitted through the partial reflective film, and the other part is reflected by the partial reflective film.
[0025] Optionally, the laser transmitter further includes:
[0026] The collimating lens is located at the light-emitting side of the gain chip and is used to collimate the amplified laser.
[0027] The utility model also discloses an optical communication device, comprising the laser transmitter as described above.
[0028] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the laser transmitter provided by the embodiment of the utility model is that the laser generated by the laser chip is amplified by a gain chip and then emitted. The amplified laser has higher optical power, which can compensate for the attenuation of the optical signal during the transmission process, improve the signal strength and quality, and there is no need to set EDFA in the communication link, thereby ensuring the success of long-distance, high-speed optical communication transmission. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The technical solution of the utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, in which:
[0030] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a laser transmitter provided by the utility model;
[0031] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the optical path of a laser transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] The reference numerals in the figures are:
[0033] 1. Laser emitter; 11. Laser chip; 12. Gain chip; 13. Coupling lens; 14. Collimating lens; 15. Beam splitter; 151. Triangular prism; 152. Partial reflection film; 16. Sensor chip; 17. U-shaped base; 181. Thermistor; 182. Refrigerator; 19. Chip carrier; 191. Lens slot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other. Now, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present utility model is described in detail.
[0035] The utility model embodiment provides a laser transmitter, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a laser transmitter provided by the utility model. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the optical path of a laser transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] The laser transmitter 10 includes a laser chip 11, a gain chip 12, and a coupling lens 13 located between the laser chip 11 and the gain chip 12. The laser chip 11 may be a DFB (Distributed Feedback) chip, which works by introducing periodic refractive index changes in semiconductor materials to form a grating structure, thereby achieving single-mode output of the laser. This structure enables the laser to generate light output with a fixed wavelength and a narrow bandwidth.
[0037] In other implementation scenarios, the laser chip 11 can also be a DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector) chip, a FP (Fabry-Perot) chip, a VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) chip, or a Raman laser chip.
[0038] The gain chip 12 is made of semiconductor materials, and amplifies and emits the optical signal through the internal gain medium. When the optical signal passes through the gain chip 12, the electrons in the gain medium are excited, thereby amplifying the optical signal. Different application scenarios and system requirements may require different gain multiples, so the ability to autonomously adjust the gain multiple is one of the important characteristics of the gain chip 12. By adjusting the size of the injected current, the amplification effect of the gain chip 12 can be flexibly controlled to meet different communication needs. Increasing the injected current can increase the amplification multiple, and reducing the injected current will reduce the amplification multiple. In general, the gain multiple of the gain chip 12 can be very high, usually between 100 and 100,000 times. This high gain multiple characteristic makes the gain chip 12 play a vital role in the optical communication system, and can effectively enhance the intensity and quality of the optical signal, thereby realizing long-distance, high-speed optical communication transmission.
[0039] The coupling lens 13 is used to guide the laser beam emitted from the laser chip 11 to the gain chip 12 to ensure effective coupling and transmission of the laser. Effective coupling can maximize the use of light energy and improve the transmission efficiency and quality of optical signals.
[0040] From the above description, it can be seen that in this embodiment, the laser generated by the laser chip is amplified by a gain chip and then emitted. The amplification factor of the gain chip is between 100 and 100,000 times. The amplified laser has higher optical power, which can compensate for the attenuation of the optical signal during the transmission process and improve the signal strength and quality. There is no need to set EDFA in the communication link, thereby ensuring the success of long-distance, high-speed optical communication transmission.
[0041] Please continue reading Figure 1 The laser transmitter 10 further includes a collimating lens 14, which is located on the light-emitting side of the gain chip 12 and is used to collimate the amplified divergent laser light, so that the light beam becomes parallel and the divergence angle of the light beam is reduced, thereby achieving the collimation of the light beam. Through the processing of the collimating lens 14, the divergent light beam output by the gain chip 12 can be effectively collimated and converted into a collimated light beam, providing a stable and high-quality optical signal for the subsequent optical communication transmission process, thereby promoting the normal operation and performance optimization of the optical communication system.
[0042] Please continue reading Figure 1 The laser transmitter 10 also includes: a beam splitter prism 15, which is located on the light output side of the collimating lens 14, and is used to divide the amplified laser into two parts and emit them in different directions, the two directions are perpendicular to each other, and the larger part of the two parts of the laser is emitted along the original direction as the emitted laser of the laser transmitter, and the other part is emitted in a direction perpendicular to the original direction as the detection light of the emitted laser. Since the splitting ratio of the beam splitter prism 15 can be known in advance, the proportional relationship between the two parts of the laser is also known, and the optical power of the emitted laser can be calculated based on the optical power of the detection light. Therefore, when the optical power does not meet the transmission requirements, the optical power can be increased by adjusting the amplification factor of the gain chip 12.
[0043] In this implementation scenario, the beam splitter prism 15 is composed of two triangular prisms 151, and the inclined surfaces of the two triangular prisms 15 are glued together by optical path glue to form an integral structure. A partial reflective film 152 is coated on one of the inclined surfaces, and the partial reflective film 152 can achieve the light splitting effect. When the laser is irradiated to the partial reflective film 152, a part of it can be emitted through the partial reflective film 152, and the other part is reflected by the partial reflective film 152, thereby dividing the light into two parts, a reflection part and a transmission part. The transmission part is transmitted to the outside through the beam splitter prism along the original direction, and the reflection part is reflected by the partial reflective film 152 and transmitted downward.
[0044] The partial reflective film 152 can be designed to have a reflection ratio of 5% and a transmission ratio of 95%, or a reflection ratio of 1% and a transmission ratio of 99%. Such a design can be adjusted according to specific optical power requirements and optical device characteristics to achieve the best optical transmission effect.
[0045] Please continue reading Figure 1 The laser transmitter 10 also includes a sensor chip 16. The sensor chip 16 is located on the side of the beam splitter prism 15 where the laser light is emitted in a smaller proportion, that is, on the side where the laser light of the reflected part is emitted. In this embodiment, the sensor chip 16 is located on the lower side of the beam splitter prism 15 because the laser light of the reflected part is emitted downward. The sensor chip 16 is an MPD (MicroPhoto Diode), which is a miniaturized photodiode. MPD is commonly used in the fields of photoelectric detection and optical signal detection, and has the characteristics of high sensitivity, fast response and small size. In this implementation scenario, the MPD is used to measure the optical power of the laser light of the reflected part, thereby monitoring the optical power of the laser light of the transmitted part.
[0046] Please continue reading Figure 1The laser emitter 10 also includes a temperature control component, which is used to detect and control the temperature inside the laser emitter 10. The temperature control component can accurately detect the temperature change inside the laser emitter 10. The operating temperature inside the laser emitter 10 is monitored in real time through sensors or other detection devices. Once it is detected that the temperature of the laser emitter 10 exceeds the set range, the temperature control component can take corresponding control measures, such as driving the heat dissipation system and the cooling system to work, so as to ensure that the laser emitter works within a safe temperature range.
[0047] The laser chip 11, the gain chip 12, the sensor chip 16 and other chips are very sensitive to temperature. Too high or too low a temperature may have a negative impact on their performance and life. By timely monitoring and controlling the temperature, the temperature control component can effectively protect the various components in the laser transmitter 10 from overheating damage and extend their service life. In addition, maintaining the laser chip 11 and the gain chip 12 at a constant temperature helps to improve the stability and performance of the system.
[0048] The temperature control component includes a thermistor 181 and a refrigerator 182. The thermistor 181 is used to detect the current temperature in the laser transmitter; the refrigerator 182 is connected to the thermistor 181 and is used to perform a cooling operation according to the current temperature. In this embodiment, the thermistor 181 is arranged close to the laser chip 11, and is used to detect the operating temperature of the laser chip 11, and feed the operating temperature back to the refrigerator 182, thereby driving the refrigerator 182 to perform corresponding operations, for example, if the operating temperature is high, the refrigerator 182 increases the cooling power.
[0049] Please continue reading Figure 1 The laser transmitter 10 also includes a chip carrier 19. The laser chip 11 and the gain chip 12 are mounted on the upper surface of the chip carrier 19. The lower surface of the chip carrier 19 is in contact with the refrigerator 182. The chip carrier 19 is made of a heat-conducting material, which effectively conducts the heat generated by the laser chip 11 and the gain chip 12 to the refrigerator 182 to achieve cooling of the laser chip 11 and the gain chip 12. It helps to maintain the laser chip 11 and the gain chip 12 within a suitable operating temperature range. This design can effectively protect the chip from overheating damage, extend the life of the device, and optimize the performance and stability of the system.
[0050] The chip carrier is provided with a lens groove 191, and the coupling lens 13 is installed in the lens groove 191, which can ensure the accurate position and stable fixation of the coupling lens 13 during the assembly process, reduce the error during the assembly process, and ensure the precise coupling between the coupling lens 13 and the laser chip 11 or the gain chip 12. Accurate coupling can improve the transmission efficiency of optical signals, avoid optical signal loss, and also help optimize the performance and stability of the system.
[0051] Please continue reading Figure 1 The laser transmitter 10 also includes a U-shaped base 17, a sensing chip 16 is arranged on the bottom surface of the U-shaped base 17, and a beam splitter prism 15 is mounted on the two upper end surfaces of the U-shaped base 17. The U-shaped base is made of insulating and heat-conductive materials, such as ceramics or silicon. The lower surface of the U-shaped base 17 is in contact with the refrigerator 182. By using a material with high thermal conductivity to manufacture the U-shaped base 17, the heat of the sensing chip 16 can be effectively conducted to the refrigerator 182, which helps the sensing chip 16 to dissipate heat and maintain a stable operating temperature. This helps to improve the performance and stability of the sensing chip 16 and extend its service life. It is also possible to keep the beam splitter prism 15 working at a constant temperature based on the same principle of heat conduction, which helps to maintain the performance stability of the beam splitter prism 15 and extend the life of the partial reflective film 152.
[0052] The U-shaped base 17 includes a bottom plate and columns arranged at both ends of the bottom plate. The sensing chip 16 is arranged on the upper surface of the bottom plate. The area of the bottom plate is larger than the sensing chip 16. The distance between the two columns is smaller than the side length of the beam splitter prism 15, so that the beam splitter prism 15 can be mounted on the upper end surfaces of the two columns, and it is necessary to ensure that the distance between the two columns is wide enough so that the sensing chip 16 can receive all the reflected parts of the laser.
[0053] It should be understood that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present utility model rather than to limit it. For those skilled in the art, the technical solutions described in the above embodiments can be modified, or some of the technical features therein can be replaced by equivalents; and all these modifications and replacements should fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present utility model.
Claims
1. A laser transmitter, characterized in that: include: Laser chip, used to generate laser light; A gain chip, located at the light-emitting side of the laser chip, is used to amplify the laser light before emitting it, and the amplification factor of the gain chip can be controlled by the size of the injected current; A coupling lens is located between the laser chip and the gain chip, and is used to couple the laser emitted by the laser chip to the gain chip.
2. The laser transmitter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser transmitter also includes: The beam splitter prism is located on the light output side of the gain chip and is used to split the amplified laser into two parts and emit them in different directions. The larger portion of the two parts of laser light is used as the output laser of the laser emitter, and the smaller portion is used as the detection light of the output laser.
3. The laser transmitter according to claim 2, characterized in that: The laser transmitter also includes: The sensing chip is located on the side of the beam splitter prism from which the smaller portion of the laser is emitted, and is used to receive the smaller portion of the laser and monitor the output optical power of the laser emission according to the smaller portion of the laser.
4. The laser transmitter according to claim 3, characterized in that: The laser transmitter also includes: The temperature control component is used to detect and control the temperature inside the laser emitter.
5. The laser transmitter according to claim 4, characterized in that: The temperature control assembly comprises: a thermistor for detecting the current temperature in the laser transmitter; A refrigerator is connected to the thermistor and is used to perform a cooling operation according to the current temperature.
6. The laser transmitter according to claim 5, characterized in that: The laser transmitter also includes: A chip carrier, the laser chip and the gain chip are mounted on the upper surface of the chip carrier, the lower surface of the chip carrier is in contact with the refrigerator, and the chip carrier is made of a heat-conducting material; A lens groove is arranged on the chip carrier, and the coupling lens is installed in the lens groove.
7. The laser transmitter according to claim 5, characterized in that: The laser transmitter also includes: A U-shaped base, the sensing chip is arranged on the bottom surface of the U-shaped base, the beam splitter prism is mounted on the two upper end surfaces of the U-shaped base, and the U-shaped base is made of insulating and heat-conductive material; The lower surface of the U-shaped base is in contact with the refrigerator.
8. The laser transmitter according to claim 2, characterized in that: The beam splitter prism includes two triangular prisms, the oblique surfaces of the two triangular prisms are glued together, one of the oblique surfaces is coated with a partial reflective film, when laser light is irradiated to the partial reflective film, a part of it can be emitted through the partial reflective film, and the other part is reflected by the partial reflective film.
9. The laser transmitter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The laser transmitter also includes: The collimating lens is located at the light-emitting side of the gain chip and is used to collimate the amplified laser.
10. An optical communication device, characterized in that: Comprising the laser transmitter according to any one of claims 1-9.