Flexible Glass Interposer Aligns Waveguides on Curved Photonic ICs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The adoption of optics for short-distance applications, such as chip-to-chip communication, is hindered by the difficulty in properly aligning optical waveguides with photonic integrated circuits (ICs) that have surface warpage or deformities, leading to coupling losses.
Innovation Solution
A flexible glass interposer with an optical waveguide and electrical conductor, which can deform to closely mate with photonic ICs, ensuring proper alignment and optical coupling, even with surface warpages or deformities, and providing high channel density and 2D to 1D translation for multi-core fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid optical waveguides are used for chip-to-chip communication, then signal transmission can be maintained, but alignment with photonic ICs having surface warpage becomes difficult, leading to coupling losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible glass ribbon as the waveguide medium instead of rigid optical waveguides. This flexible ribbon can deform and conform to the curved surface of photonic ICs, enabling proper optical coupling even when surface warpage is present. The flexibility allows the ribbon to adapt its shape to match the underlying IC surface, resolving the alignment precision issue while maintaining signal transmission reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the waveguide from rigid to flexible by using a flexible glass ribbon. This parameter change enables the waveguide to dynamically adjust its geometry to accommodate surface warpage, achieving both reliable signal transmission and precise alignment without requiring rigid structural integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If flexible glass ribbon is used instead of rigid waveguides, then alignment with curved photonic IC surfaces is achieved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible glass ribbon serves as both a structural and optical component. Its flexibility allows it to conform to curved surfaces for precise alignment, while its material properties (glass composition) provide sufficient structural stability to maintain optical integrity and mechanical durability during operation and handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible glass ribbon can be constructed as a composite structure combining flexible glass material with reinforcing elements or coating layers. This composite approach enhances structural stability while preserving the flexibility needed for alignment with photonic IC surfaces.
3Productivity
If multi-core fibers are used for high channel density, then data transmission capacity increases, but coupling with photonic ICs becomes more complex due to 2D to 1D translation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible glass ribbon naturally provides 2D to 1D translation capability. Multiple optical cores can be arranged in a two-dimensional array within the ribbon, and the ribbon's flexibility allows this 2D structure to be coupled to a 1D interface on the photonic IC. The ribbon acts as a transition medium that accommodates the dimensional transformation, reducing coupling complexity while maintaining high channel density.
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 flexible glass interposer reduces coupling losses by aligning optical waveguides with photonic ICs, enabling efficient optical and electrical signal transmission while accommodating surface irregularities, thus enhancing the performance of optics in short-distance communications.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible glass ribbon allows the interposer to deform to couple more closely with a photonic IC with surface warpage or deformities
Implementation Method 2
The optical waveguide is disposed within the flexible glass ribbon and terminates at the first end... such that the optical waveguide is optically coupled to a corresponding waveguide in the IC
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a ribbon, an optical waveguide, and an IC. The ribbon includes a first end. The optical waveguide is disposed within the ribbon and terminates at the first end. The IC includes a curved surface. The first end of the ribbon bends to mate with the curved surface such that the optical waveguide is optically coupled to a corresponding waveguide in the IC.