Multi-Channel AOM Interface Layout for Low Crosstalk Beam Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) suffer from excessive noise levels and inter-channel acoustic crosstalk, leading to instability and errors in optical illumination systems, particularly in applications requiring quantum state manipulation and ion array based quantum computing.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a multi-channel AOM with a dielectric interface board and shield vias to reduce electrical crosstalk by eliminating bond wire connections and incorporating dielectric protrusions and shield vias, along with a structured interface card to minimize magnetic and capacitive coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bond wire connections are used to connect transducer electrodes to signal contacts, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but electrical crosstalk and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam stabilityVSAvoidelectrical crosstalk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes bond wire connections from the system entirely. Instead of using traditional bond wires to connect transducer electrodes to signal contacts, the invention extracts this harmful element and replaces it with direct dielectric protrusion connections, thereby eliminating the source of electrical crosstalk and noise while maintaining electrical connectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dielectric protrusions as intermediary structures between transducer electrodes and signal contacts. These dielectric protrusions with integrated conductive layers serve as mediators that provide electrical connectivity without the harmful effects of bond wires, reducing electrical crosstalk while maintaining signal transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If shield vias and dielectric protrusions are added to reduce crosstalk, then beam stability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam stabilityVSAvoidinterface board structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into the dielectric protrusions. Each dielectric protrusion simultaneously serves as a structural support element, an electrical connection carrier (through integrated conductive layers), and a shielding element (through associated shield vias). This merging reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall interface board structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested structure where conductive layers are integrated within dielectric protrusions, and shield vias are positioned around and coupled to these protrusions. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to be compactly arranged, reducing space requirements and overall device complexity while maintaining effective crosstalk reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Significantly reduces electrical crosstalk, enhancing beam stability and reducing errors in optical channels, particularly in applications like laser photomask generation and ion array quantum computing.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric transducer, sometimes also referred to as a radio frequency (RF) transducer, is secured to an acousto-optic bulk medium... An electric RF signal oscillates and drives the transducer to vibrate and create sound waves within the transparent medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

create sound waves within the transparent medium, which effect the properties of an optical field in the medium via the photo elastic effect, in which a modulating strain field of an ultrasonic wave is coupled to an index of refraction for the acousto-optic bulk medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhoto elastic effect: Photoelasticity

Implementation Method 3

The index of refraction is changed by moving periodic planes of expansion and compression in the acousto-optic bulk material. Incoming light scatters because of the resulting periodic index modulation and interference, similar to Bragg diffraction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBragg diffraction: Bragg Diffraction

Data Source

PatentUS12461402B2Acousto-optic modulator system and device with connections and related methods

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 EAGLE TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

An acousto-optic system may include a laser source, and an AOM coupled to the laser source and having an acousto-optic medium and transducer electrodes carried by the medium. The acousto-optic system may also include an interface board with a dielectric layer and signal contacts carried by the dielectric layer, and connections coupling respective signal contacts with respective transducer electrodes. Each connection may include a dielectric protrusion extending from the AOM, and an electrically conductive layer on the dielectric protrusion for coupling a respective transducer electrode to a respective signal contact.