Optical Antenna Arrays on Waveguides for Compact Photonic Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current integrated photonic devices face challenges in miniaturization, increased operating bandwidth, robustness, and reduced power consumption, particularly due to susceptibility to interference and narrow spectral operating ranges, which hinders their reliable integration for next-generation optical information processing and on-chip chemical/biological sensing.

Innovation Solution

The integration of optical waveguides with antenna arrays, which can be fabricated from metallic or dielectric materials, to control light propagation, enabling the creation of miniature, broadband photonic devices for applications such as mode converters, polarization rotators, optical power diodes, and nonlinear optical elements, by introducing spatial distributions of phase, amplitude, and polarization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If coupled waveguides are used for integrated photonic devices, then light propagation control is achieved, but the device footprint becomes large due to weak coupling between waveguides

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice footprintVSAvoidcoupling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Optical antennas serve as intermediary elements between waveguides, enabling strong coupling through near-field interactions. The antennas are positioned in the evanescent field region of the waveguides, acting as mediators that enhance energy transfer and enable compact device design while maintaining reliable coupling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If micro-ring resonators and photonic-crystal cavities are used, then small footprint is achieved, but device performance becomes highly susceptible to interference such as temperature changes and fabrication errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice footprintVSAvoidsusceptibility to interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: waveguides for light transport and antenna arrays for light-matter interaction. This segmentation allows the waveguides to be designed for robust, low-loss propagation while the antenna arrays provide the necessary functionality with relaxed tolerance requirements, reducing overall susceptibility to fabrication errors and environmental interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional waveguide approaches are used, then device integration is achieved, but operating bandwidth is limited and spectral range is narrow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating bandwidthVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna array parameters (geometry, spacing, orientation, material composition) can be dynamically adjusted to change the coupling strength, resonant frequency, and spectral response. This parameter tunability enables broadband operation and extended spectral range without requiring complex device structures, as the same basic antenna-waveguide configuration can be adapted to different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach results in lightweight, miniature, and broadband integrated photonic devices capable of efficient mode conversion, polarization rotation, and nonlinear optical processes, maintaining high purity and energy efficiency over a wide wavelength range, thus overcoming the limitations of existing devices.

Implementation Method 1

coupled waveguides, which are typically hundreds of microns to millimeters in length because of the weak coupling between waveguides via evanescent waves

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvanescent wave coupling:

Implementation Method 2

The antenna array can be configured to introduce a spatial distribution of optical phase, such as a linear distribution along the waveguide or a nonlinear distribution along the waveguide. The antenna array can be configured to introduce a spatial distribution of optical amplitude, a spatial distribution of optical polarization, a spatial distribution of optical impedance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical antenna radiation:

Implementation Method 3

The integrated photonic device can be configured to form a nonlinear optical element, where the waveguide is made of one or more optical nonlinear materials and the antenna array is configured for phase matching between different waves adapted for participating in the nonlinear optical process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNonlinear optical process:

Implementation Method 4

an optical waveguide to control the propagation of light through the waveguide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9588292B2Integrated photonic devices based on waveguides patterned with optical antenna arrays

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIV IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

AI summary

Integrated photonic devices including an optical waveguide patterned with an array of antennas are provided. The small footprint, lightweight, and broadband integrated photonic devices provided can be configured into waveguide mode converters, polarization rotators, perfect absorbers, photodetectors, optical power diodes, nonlinear optical elements, heat-assisted magnetic recorders, optical isolators, and optical circulators.