Cascadable Photonic Circuits With Nonlinear Amplitude Thresholding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Photonic circuits suffer from amplitude and phase errors that propagate and accumulate due to cascaded photonic gates, leading to incorrect output results.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a photonic circuit with nonlinear amplitude thresholders, such as saturable absorbers and semiconductor optical amplifiers, to correct amplitude and phase errors by operating in different regimes based on input signal amplitudes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cascaded photonic gates are used for signal processing, then computational functionality is improved, but amplitude errors and phase errors propagate and accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputational functionalityVSAvoidsignal accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A nonlinear amplitude thresholder is introduced as an intermediary component between cascaded photonic gates. This thresholder corrects amplitude and phase errors by applying nonlinear transformation to the optical signal, effectively resetting error accumulation while preserving the computational functionality of the cascaded gate structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the photonic system by introducing nonlinear amplitude thresholding. By operating the thresholder in different regimes (first, second, and third operating regimes), the system dynamically adjusts signal parameters to correct errors without sacrificing computational capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If nonlinear amplitude thresholders are added to correct errors, then signal accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal accuracyVSAvoidcircuit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nonlinear amplitude thresholder is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it corrects amplitude errors, corrects phase errors, and enables reliable cascading of photonic gates. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate correction circuits, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The photonic circuit produces accurate output signals without errors, allowing for cascading with other photonic gates and improving the reliability of photonic processors.

Implementation Method 1

nonlinear amplitude thresholders, such as saturable absorbers and semiconductor optical amplifiers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNonlinear optical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

saturable absorbers including based on graphene, Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) or other 2D materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSaturable absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12455491B2Cascadable photonic circuits with nonlinear amplitude thresholders

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 MILKSHAKE TECH INC

AI summary

A photonic circuit with at least one nonlinear amplitude thresholder for correcting errors produced by linear photonic logic. One or more photonic input gates of the photonic circuit receive one or more input signals and generate one or more photonic signals based on the one or more photonic input signals. A first set of one or more photonic gates of the photonic circuit generates one or more intermediate photonic signals based on the one or more photonic signals. The at least one nonlinear amplitude thresholder generates at least one photonic thresholding signal based on the one or more intermediate photonic signals, the at least one nonlinear amplitude thresholder operating in a first operating regime, second operating regime, and/or third operating regime. A second set of one or more photonic gates of the photonic circuit generates one or more photonic output signals based on the at least one photonic thresholding signal.