Integrated Laser with DBR-MRR Mirror for Balanced Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated lasers face challenges in producing multiple balanced outputs due to wide bandwidth reflection spectra of distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) and periodic peaks of ring-resonator mirrors, which lead to competing optical modes and unreliability in optical sources.
Innovation Solution
An integrated laser design incorporating a reflective silicon optical amplifier (RSOA), an optical waveguide, and a DBR ring resonator with grating-waveguide perturbations that provide balanced light flow in multiple directions, forming a lasing cavity with multiple output waveguides for balanced power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) is used as an integrated mirror, then the laser can select a single wavelength, but the wide bandwidth reflection spectrum causes numerous competing optical-cavity modes to arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a DBR mirror with a micro-ring resonator (MRR) to create a hybrid structure. The DBR provides wavelength selection while the MRR introduces sharp resonance peaks that suppress competing modes. The coupling between these two mirrors creates a composite reflection spectrum that maintains single-wavelength selection with enhanced mode stability, resolving the contradiction between wavelength precision and optical mode stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated laser uses a composite mirror structure combining DBR and MRR elements. This composite approach leverages the strengths of both mirror types: the DBR's narrow wavelength selection capability and the MRR's sharp resonance peaks for mode suppression. The composite mirror achieves both precise wavelength selection and stable optical operation by integrating these two different optical components.
2Reliability
If a ring-resonator mirror is used instead of DBR, then mode-selectivity is improved due to sharp resonance peaks, but periodic peaks occur multiple times within the spectral bandwidth introducing competing optical modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a DBR mirror with a micro-ring resonator to create a hybrid mirror structure. The DBR component suppresses the periodic peaks problem by providing a narrow, non-periodic reflection spectrum, while the MRR component provides sharp resonance peaks for mode selectivity. This merging resolves the contradiction by using the DBR to filter out unwanted periodic peaks while retaining the MRR's mode-selective capability.
3Reliability
If multiple lasers are used to produce multiple outputs, then each laser can provide stable output, but the different gain media introduce significant unreliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a single laser cavity into multiple output paths using a micro-ring resonator with multiple drop ports. Instead of using multiple separate lasers, the single laser generates one optical signal that is then distributed to multiple outputs through the ring resonator's multiple coupling points. This segmentation approach maintains output stability from a single gain medium while avoiding the unreliability of multiple different gain media.
Solution Approach 2:
The single laser with multi-port ring resonator serves multiple functions that would otherwise require multiple lasers. The single optical source provides multiple balanced outputs for different communication channels, demonstrating multi-functionality. This universal approach eliminates the need for multiple specialized lasers with different gain media, reducing system complexity and improving reliability.
4Device complexity
If a single laser produces multiple outputs, then system complexity is reduced, but achieving balanced power output across all outputs is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric coupling coefficients between the micro-ring resonator and different drop ports to achieve balanced power distribution. By deliberately designing different coupling strengths at various ports, the system compensates for path length differences and insertion losses, ensuring that all outputs receive equal power despite the asymmetric physical configuration. This asymmetric design approach simplifies the system while achieving precise power balance.
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 integrated laser achieves balanced power output in multiple directions, reducing the need for multiple lasers and enhancing reliability by utilizing a DBR ring resonator with narrow reflection peaks and grating-waveguide perturbations, ensuring efficient operation with compact size and high efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) ring resonator optically coupled to the optical waveguide at a location proximate to the second end of the optical waveguide. The DBR ring resonator partially reflects a wavelength of the optical signal from the optical waveguide
Implementation Method 2
ring-resonator mirrors are often a better choice than DBRs for providing mode-selectivity because of their sharp resonance peaks
Implementation Method 3
a reflective silicon optical amplifier (RSOA) having a reflective end with a reflective coating and an interface end
Implementation Method 4
DBR ring resonator includes DBR grating-waveguide perturbations
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated laser that provides multiple outputs includes a reflective silicon optical amplifier (RSOA) having a reflective end with a reflective coating and an interface end. It also includes an optical waveguide optically coupled to the RSOA. A distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) ring resonator is also optically coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein the DBR ring resonator partially reflects a wavelength of the optical signal from the optical waveguide, thereby causing balanced light to flow in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions inside the DBR ring resonator. The integrated laser additionally includes an output waveguide having 2*N ends that function as two outputs, wherein the output waveguide is optically coupled to the DBR ring resonator, which causes balanced light to flow in two directions in the output waveguide, thereby causing the 2*N outputs to provide balanced power.