Double Mirror Wavelength Division Multiplexer for Polymer Waveguides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wavelength division multiplexing solutions face difficulties in implementation on polymer waveguides due to challenges in forming reflective structures at forty-five degree angles, leading to shadow effects and high polarization dependency, which limits the ability to efficiently multiplex and demultiplex multiple data signals.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer is designed using a double mirror structure with a dielectric filter on an opto-electronic device array, where the mirrors are formed at angles less than 45 degrees with curved surfaces to compensate for beam divergence, and a filter layer is used to selectively transmit one wavelength while reflecting others, allowing for high-density polymer waveguide arrays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dielectric mirror is formed at a forty-five degree angle in a waveguide to achieve wavelength selection, then wavelength division multiplexing function is achieved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to shadow effects and polarization dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The single forty-five degree mirror is divided into two separate mirrors at different angles. The first mirror is at approximately thirty degrees and the second mirror is at approximately sixty degrees, both formed in the same waveguide section. This segmentation allows each mirror to be optimized independently for its specific wavelength while avoiding the manufacturing problems of a single steep-angle mirror.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the waveguide are given different local properties by placing mirrors at specific locations and angles. The first mirror is positioned to reflect a first wavelength while the second mirror reflects a second wavelength, creating localized wavelength-selective regions that can be manufactured separately and combined.
2Reliability
If a thick reflector is used at forty-five degrees to compensate for polarization dependency, then reflector performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The angle parameter of the mirrors is changed from the conventional forty-five degrees to different values (thirty and sixty degrees). This parameter change reduces the polarization dependency and allows for thinner, more manufacturable reflectors while maintaining reliable wavelength-selective reflection performance.
3Productivity
If more than 60,000 individual fibers are used to increase bandwidth, then data transfer capacity is improved, but physical limits are reached and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single waveguide is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating multiple wavelength-selective mirrors that can reflect different wavelengths. This allows one physical waveguide to handle multiple data signals simultaneously, replacing the need for numerous separate fibers and achieving high data transfer capacity without proportional increases in physical channel count.
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
This solution enables efficient wavelength division multiplexing and demultiplexing in polymer waveguides, increasing bandwidth without increasing physical channels, and allows for direct data transfer between boards or fiber ribbons, addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a first reflective surface, positioned at an end of a first waveguide section, that reflects a beam comprising a plurality of wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
a filter in the path of the reflected beam that allows a selected wavelength from the reflected beam to pass and that reflects all other wavelengths in a selected beam
Implementation Method 3
a second reflective surface, positioned adjacent to the first reflective surface and at an end of a second waveguide section, that reflects the selected beam into a core of the second waveguide section
Implementation Method 4
formed at an angle less than 45 degrees relative to a beam path and having a curve to compensate for beam divergence
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for wavelength filtering and structures for accomplishing the same. Wavelength filtering includes forming grooves in a waveguide to define angled surfaces in a path of the waveguide; forming a reflective layer on the angled surfaces; depositing cladding material on top of the waveguide and on the angled surfaces; forming a filter layer on an active region of an opto-electronic device, which transmits a single wavelength and reflects other wavelengths used; depositing the opto-electrical device on the cladding layer such that the filter layer is aligned with a point of incidence of a light beam reflected from the reflective layer; and electrically bonding the opto-electronic device to vias in the waveguide structure.