Integrated Curved Grating Semiconductor Laser Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wavelength tunable laser devices face challenges with high power consumption, complex control circuits, and slow tuning speeds, making them inefficient and costly for applications in optical communication networks.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength tunable laser device with a diffraction grating and feedback waveguides that diffract laser beams into specific spatial directions, using phase detectors to generate error signals for precise phase control and reduce cavity-mode frequency offset, thereby simplifying the control circuit and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If SGDBR laser uses front and back Bragg grating sections with high current injection for wavelength tuning, then wavelength tuning capability is achieved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the Bragg grating sections from the laser structure, retaining only the gain section and phase section. This removal of the power-consuming grating sections while maintaining wavelength tuning capability through the phase section directly resolves the contradiction between wavelength tuning capability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical current-based wavelength tuning mechanism in Bragg grating sections with a phase control mechanism using error signal feedback. This substitution reduces power consumption while maintaining the wavelength tuning function through optical rather than electrical means.
2Measurement precision
If SGDBR laser uses phase-sensitive lock-in technique with multiple feedback loops for phase control, then phase control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex phase-sensitive lock-in technique and multiple feedback loops from the control system. Instead, it uses a simplified error signal generation and feedback mechanism that achieves phase control with minimal circuitry, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-correcting phase control mechanism where the error signal is automatically generated from the correlation between output power and cavity-mode frequency offset, and the phase section self-adjusts to nullify the frequency offset without requiring complex external control circuits.
3Speed
If MEM-ECL laser uses microelectromechanical device for mirror tuning, then wavelength tuning speed is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the microelectromechanical mirror tuning device from the laser structure. Instead, it uses a monolithic integrated design where wavelength tuning is achieved through phase control of the gain section, removing the need for precise mechanical alignment of micro-optic components while maintaining fast tuning speed.
4Device complexity
If TF-ECL laser uses intra-cavity tunable filter for wavelength tuning, then device complexity is reduced, but wavelength tuning speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the slow intra-cavity tunable filter mechanism with a fast phase control mechanism in the gain section. This substitution uses electrical phase modulation instead of mechanical or thermal filtering, achieving both simple device structure and fast wavelength tuning speed simultaneously.
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 solution achieves low operating current and power consumption, simplifies phase control, and enhances tuning speed, making it more economical and efficient for optical communication networks.
Implementation Method 1
a diffraction grating to diffract a laser beam into a plurality of diffracted laser beams. Each of the plurality of diffracted laser beams of specific wavelengths is diffracted to specific spatial directions
Implementation Method 2
at least one feedback waveguide. A feedback waveguide is spatially present in a specific direction corresponding to the specific spatial direction of a diffracted laser beam
Implementation Method 3
Each feedback waveguide precedes a second mirror and the second mirror reflecting the diffracted laser beam
Implementation Method 4
a phase detector to detect an error in a wavelength of a received laser beam with respect to a desired wavelength. The phase detector generates an error signal to identify the error in the wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A wavelength tunable laser which includes a first mirror, a diffraction grating to diffract a laser beam into a plurality of diffracted laser beams, at least one feedback waveguide, at least one second mirror. Each feedback waveguide precedes one of the second mirrors, and a phase detector to detect an error in a wavelength of a received laser beam with respect to a desired wavelength.