Optical Reflector Using Evanescent Coupling for Compact Cavity Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical reflectors in silicon photonics require two discrete components to control cavity reflection and output ports, leading to longer cavity lengths and uneven power distribution in laser output, which complicates the fabrication of high-efficiency optical sources for low-power interconnects.
Innovation Solution
An optical reflector based on a directionally coupled optical loop with evanescent coupling between arms, incorporating a directional coupler and an optical loop with specific power coefficients and phase differences to achieve compact, efficient wavelength reflection and transmission, potentially integrated with Mach-Zehnder Interferometers and ring-resonator filters for tunable performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two discrete components (reflector and 2×2 directional coupler) are used to control cavity reflection and output ports, then the cavity reflection can be controlled, but the cavity length becomes longer and the laser output power distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reflector and the 2×2 directional coupler into a single integrated optical reflector component. This integration eliminates the need for separate discrete components, thereby reducing the overall cavity length while maintaining the functionality of controlling cavity reflection and establishing output ports with balanced power distribution.
2Reliability
If two discrete components (reflector and 2×2 directional coupler) are used to control cavity reflection and output ports, then the cavity reflection can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discrete optical components (reflector and directional coupler) into a single integrated optical reflector device. This merging reduces the total number of components required, simplifying the device structure and reducing fabrication complexity while maintaining the ability to control cavity reflection and establish balanced output ports.
3Ease of operation
If a separate 2×2 directional coupler is used, then the output ports can be established, but the laser output is split into two ports with different power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the directional coupler functionality directly into the optical reflector structure, creating a unified component that simultaneously establishes output ports and ensures balanced power distribution. This integration allows for precise control of the coupling coefficients to achieve equal power splitting at the output ports, eliminating the power distribution imbalance issue.
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 a more compact, low-loss optical device that can be used to create high-efficiency hybrid optical sources for high-performance computing, facilitating efficient optical interconnects with tunable reflection and transmission coefficients, reducing power consumption, and improving bandwidth and density.
Implementation Method 1
a directional coupler optically coupled to the first arm and the second arm, where the directional coupler evanescently couples the optical signal between the first arm and the second arm
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device includes an optical reflector based on a coupled-loopback optical waveguide. In particular, an input port, an output port and an optical loop in arms of the optical reflector are optically coupled to a directional coupler. The directional coupler evanescently couples an optical signal between the arms. For example, the directional coupler may include: a multimode interference coupler and/or a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI). Moreover, destructive interference during the evanescent coupling determines the reflection and transmission power coefficients of the optical reflector.