Integrated Optical Modulation Device for Polarization Beam Combining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integration-type optical modulation devices face challenges in improving optical characteristics, miniaturization, and reducing costs due to the complexity and number of optical components required for polarization beam combining, which affects coupling efficiency and stability over temperature variations.
Innovation Solution
The optical modulation device incorporates a configuration with two optical modulation elements and optical path shift elements, where the output light beams are shifted equally in opposite directions and combined using half-wavelength plates and polarization beam combining prisms, integrated as one optical component within a housing, reducing the number of optical components and enhancing symmetry for improved stability and miniaturization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple optical modulation elements are integrated in one housing to increase transmission capacity, then productivity and transmission capacity are improved, but device complexity and the number of optical components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical modulation elements (first and second optical modulation elements) into a single integrated housing, along with their respective optical path shift elements and polarization beam combining elements. This merging approach allows the system to handle multiple wavelength channels simultaneously, increasing transmission capacity while managing device complexity through systematic integration rather than separate discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated optical modulation device performs multiple functions within a single housing: it modulates multiple wavelength channels (wavelength multiplexing), combines polarized beams (polarization beam combining), and extends optical paths. This multi-functionality allows the device to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate devices, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If optical path shift elements and polarization beam combining elements are used to combine light beams, then optical modulation performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates optical path shift elements and polarization beam combining elements into a unified structure within the housing. By combining these functions into an integrated assembly rather than using separate discrete components, the device achieves reliable optical modulation performance while reducing the number of individual parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs.
3Reliability
If distance between optical modulation elements is extended to accommodate optical components, then optical coupling efficiency is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical path shift elements that utilize angular deviation to extend the effective optical path distance between modulation elements. Instead of increasing the physical linear distance between components, the optical path is extended through angular redirection, allowing sufficient coupling efficiency to be achieved while maintaining a compact device volume.
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 reduces optical loss, stabilizes temperature variations, and minimizes device size and cost by integrating optical path shift and polarization beam combining elements, ensuring comparable optical performance across wavelength channels and reducing disparities in transmission quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical path shift element that shifts optical paths of the two output light beams from the first optical modulation element by a same distance to a first direction; a second optical path shift element that shifts optical paths of the two output light beams from the second optical modulation element by a same distance to a second direction
Implementation Method 2
each of the first and second polarization beam combining elements includes a half-wavelength plate and a polarization beam combining prism
Implementation Method 3
a first polarization beam combining element that combines the two output light beams after passing through the first optical path shift element into one beam and outputs the combined beam; and a second polarization beam combining element that combines the two output light beams after passing through the second optical path shift element into one beam
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an integration-type optical modulation device which performs polarization-beam-combining on two linearly polarized light beams respectively output from a plurality of optical modulation elements and outputs the resultant beam so as to seek an improvement and stabilization of optical characteristics, miniaturization, and low cost. The optical modulation device includes: first and second optical modulation elements 102a and 120b that are disposed to output output light beams side by side and respectively output the two output light beams; first and second optical path shift elements 108a and 108b that respectively shift optical paths of the two output light beams from the first optical modulation element and optical paths of the two output light beams from the second optical modulation element in first and second directions; and first and second polarization beam combining elements 110a and 110b that respectively combine the two output light beams after passing through the first and second optical path shift elements into one beam and outputs the one beam, in which the first optical path shift element and the second optical path shift element are integrally formed as one optical component.