Grating Coupler Waveguide Architecture for Uniform Light Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing photonic devices face challenges in delivering excitation light uniformly to a large array of sample wells, leading to reduced signal-to-noise ratio and analysis quality due to optical losses, particularly as the number of sample wells increases, and are limited by size, portability, and cost.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a grating coupler with asymmetric material structures and a waveguide architecture, including tapered and power waveguides, to optically couple with multiple sample wells, reducing optical losses and enhancing uniformity of light distribution across the array.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional laser light sources and complex detection optics are used to illuminate tagged samples, then detection capability is achieved, but device size, cost, and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidoptical system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional laser light sources and complex detection optics with integrated photonic circuits that guide light through waveguides to illuminate samples. This substitution of mechanical/optical components with integrated photonic structures reduces device size, complexity, and cost while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple optical functions (light delivery, sample illumination, detection) into a single integrated photonic device where waveguides deliver light directly to sample wells and photodetectors are integrated on the same substrate, eliminating the need for separate laser sources and complex optical paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If light is delivered to a large array of sample wells, then parallel analysis capability increases, but optical losses increase and uniformity of light distribution decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparallel analysis capabilityVSAvoidoptical losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the large array of sample wells into smaller groups, with each group served by its own waveguide. This segmentation allows optimized light delivery to each subset while reducing cumulative optical losses that would occur if a single waveguide tried to serve all wells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local optimization of waveguide parameters (such as width, height, and material composition) to maximize light coupling efficiency at each specific location in the array, ensuring uniform light distribution across all sample wells despite their distance from the light source

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the number of sample wells is increased for bulk analysis, then analysis throughput increases, but light delivery efficiency decreases due to increased optical losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis throughputVSAvoidlight delivery efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from planar waveguide structures to three-dimensional photonic integration, utilizing vertical stacking and layered architectures to deliver light more efficiently to a larger number of sample wells without proportionally increasing optical losses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs waveguides and photonic structures that can serve multiple functions: delivering excitation light to samples, guiding emitted light to detectors, and potentially integrating signal processing functions, thereby improving overall system efficiency while supporting larger sample arrays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configuration allows for more efficient and uniform delivery of light to a larger number of sample wells, improving the signal-to-noise ratio and analysis quality while reducing the complexity and cost of fabrication.

Implementation Method 1

a grating coupler optically coupled to the at least one waveguide and configured to receive light incident to a surface of the integrated photonic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

a first waveguide positioned to optically couple with at least two sample wells in the row; and a power waveguide configured to receive light from a region of the integrated photonic device separate from the row of sample wells and to optically couple with the first waveguide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical waveguide: Waveguide (optics)

Data Source

PatentUS11774674B2Optical waveguides and couplers for delivering light to an array of photonic elements

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 QUANTUM SI INC

AI summary

Optical waveguides and couplers for delivering light to an array of photonic elements in a photonic integrated device. The photonic integrated device and related instruments and systems may be used to analyze samples in parallel. The photonic integrated device may include a grating coupler configured to receive light from an external light source and optically couple with multiple waveguides configured to optically couple with sample wells of the photonic integrated device.