Curved Optical Waveguide for Higher-Order Mode Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical waveguide devices face challenges in efficiently removing higher-order mode components, which lead to interference and deviations in branch ratios, particularly due to manufacturing variations and light leakage, compromising signal quality and device downsizing.
Innovation Solution
An optical waveguide device with a curved waveguide design where the curvature continuously changes, ensuring equal curvature at coupling points between waveguides, effectively transfers higher-order mode light outside the core, reducing interference and maintaining signal quality while allowing for compact device design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a directional coupler is used to remove higher-order mode components, then higher-order mode removal is achieved, but device size increases due to light leakage and the need for large bent radius
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the waveguide path, using a curved waveguide configuration where the bending radius is continuously changed. This curved geometry enables effective higher-order mode removal through controlled light leakage while maintaining a compact device footprint, resolving the contradiction between mode removal efficiency and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the waveguide, specifically the bending radius, and varies it continuously along the propagation direction. This parameter variation optimizes the balance between higher-order mode coupling efficiency and device compactness, allowing effective mode removal without requiring excessively large device dimensions.
2Reliability
If the bent radius of the optical waveguide is increased to reduce light leakage, then higher-order mode removal improves, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic bending radius that varies continuously along the waveguide propagation direction rather than maintaining a constant radius. This dynamic geometric configuration optimizes the coupling between modes at different positions while keeping the overall device compact, effectively resolving the trade-off between mode removal efficiency and device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
By implementing a curved waveguide with continuously varying bending radius, the patent achieves effective higher-order mode removal through controlled light leakage. The curved geometry allows optimization of mode coupling efficiency without requiring excessively long waveguide lengths or large device footprints.
3Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing variations occur in waveguide structures, then higher-order mode removal efficiency decreases due to insufficient mode component transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes continuous variation of the bending radius as a design parameter to optimize higher-order mode removal. By carefully controlling the functional form of the bending radius variation along the propagation direction, the design becomes more tolerant to manufacturing variations, maintaining reliable mode removal efficiency even when fabrication precision is limited.
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 continuous curvature design significantly reduces higher-order mode components, maintaining signal integrity and allowing for efficient removal even with manufacturing variations, thus enhancing the optical waveguide's performance and downsizing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
by transferring the higher-order mode light propagating through the main waveguide to the sub-waveguide, the higher-order mode component is removed from the main waveguide
Implementation Method 2
due to light leakage from the core to the clad, the higher-order mode component transferred from the main waveguide to the sub-waves side sometimes returns to the main waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
An optical waveguide device has a function of removing or suppressing a higher-order mode component of propagating light. The optical waveguide device includes a curved waveguide having a curved shape where a curvature continuously changes. A first waveguide is coupled to one end of the curved waveguide and a second waveguide is coupled to the other end of the curved waveguide. A curvature of the first waveguide and the curvature of the curved waveguide are equal to each other in a coupling point in which the first waveguide is coupled to the curved waveguide, and a curvature of the second waveguide and the curvature of the curved waveguide are equal to each other in a coupling point in which the second waveguide is coupled to the curved waveguide.