Integrated Optics Block for Coherent Transmitter Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenges in optical component design include high costs and reduced manufacturing flexibility due to complete chip integration, as well as the complexity and time required for aligning multiple optical components in complex devices, particularly in coherent transmitters and receivers for high data rates.
Innovation Solution
An integrated optics block comprising a beam splitter, polarisation combiner, and polarisation rotator, along with optional features like monitors and variable optical attenuators, is used to efficiently split, combine, and align optical signals, enabling simpler and more cost-effective assembly of optical transmitters and receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complete chip integration is used, then device functionality and size are improved, but manufacturing cost and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical device is divided into multiple separate functional modules (optical chip, electronics chip, housing) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized separately while maintaining overall device functionality, resolving the contradiction between integration benefits and manufacturing flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple optical components are assembled individually, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but alignment time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment features and optical paths are pre-configured during the manufacturing of individual modules. The optical chip and electronics chip are designed with predetermined alignment geometries that simplify the final assembly process, reducing the time and complexity of field alignment while maintaining manufacturing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A housing or mounting structure serves as an intermediary component that pre-establishes the spatial relationship between optical and electronic modules. This intermediary provides mechanical guidance and alignment references, enabling quick assembly without complex real-time alignment procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If discrete optical components are used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple discrete optical components are merged into integrated optical modules or chips that perform multiple functions within a single component. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts and assembly steps while maintaining the manufacturing flexibility benefits of modular design.
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 reduces alignment time and manufacturing costs, allows for more compact designs, and facilitates the integration of multiple optical functions within a single monolithic block, improving scalability and efficiency in optical component assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter configured to receive an input light signal, to split the input light signal into first and second input light signals
Implementation Method 2
a polarisation rotator configured to rotate the polarisation of the second modulated light signal such that it is substantially orthogonal to the polarisation of the first modulated light signal
Implementation Method 3
a polarisation combiner configured to receive first and second modulated light signals from an optical transmitter chip and to combine the first and second modulated light signals to form an output
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for use in coherent transmission and reception of optical data signals. An integrated optics block (100) for use in a coherent optical transmitter comprising: a beam splitter (102) configured to split an input light signal into first and second input light signals, to output the first input light signal for use in an optical transmitter chip and to output the second input light signal for use as a local oscillator signal; a polarisation combiner (104) configured to combine first and second received modulated light signals to form an output; and a polarisation rotator (106) configured to rotate the polarisation of the second modulated light signal such that it is substantially orthogonal to the polarisation of the first modulated light signal prior to combining.