Integrated Waveguide for Simultaneous Optical Electrical Coupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic devices face inefficiencies in connecting optoelectronic components to external components, requiring separate steps for optical and electrical coupling, which can be unreliable and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
An optoelectronic device with a waveguide that integrates both an optical waveguide section and an electrical conductor section, allowing for a single butt-coupling step to establish both optical and electrical connections, where the optical waveguide section is preferably an inner section and the electrical conductor section is an outer section, often a metal sleeve surrounding the optical waveguide, with contacts on the same or opposite sides of the component for alignment and connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate steps are used for optical and electrical coupling, then each connection can be established independently, but the overall process becomes cumbersome and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical waveguide and electrical conductor into a single integrated waveguide structure. The optical waveguide section guides light while the electrical conductor section provides electrical connection, allowing both optical and electrical coupling to be achieved simultaneously in a single butt-coupling step, thereby improving reliability and reducing process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an optical transmission medium and an electrical conductor. This universal structure eliminates the need for separate optical and electrical connection components, simplifying the overall device architecture and reducing the number of coupling steps required
2Productivity
If multiple separate connections are made for optical and electrical coupling, then each connection can be optimized independently, but the overall process takes more time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the optical waveguide and electrical conductor into a single integrated structure, the patent enables simultaneous optical and electrical coupling in one step. This eliminates the sequential process of making separate connections, thereby reducing coupling time and improving productivity
3Ease of operation
If a single integrated waveguide is used for both optical and electrical coupling, then the coupling process is simplified and becomes more reliable, but the waveguide structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide is segmented into distinct functional sections: an optical waveguide section for light transmission and an electrical conductor section for electrical connection. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while being part of an integrated structure, making the overall device easier to operate despite the internal structural complexity
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 integrated approach enables efficient and reliable simultaneous optical and electrical coupling of the optoelectronic component to external devices in a single step, enhancing connectivity and reducing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The optical waveguide section is capable of guiding radiation of a given wavelength or a given wavelength range along a longitudinal axis of the waveguide to an optical surface section of the optoelectronic component
Implementation Method 2
The electrical conductor section is capable of guiding electrical current along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide to a first electrical contact of the optoelectronic component
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention relates to an optoelectronic device comprising an optoelectronic component, a waveguide having an optical waveguide section and an electrical conductor section, the optical waveguide section being transparent for radiation of a given wavelength or a given wavelength range and capable of guiding the radiation along the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide section is optically butt-coupled to an optical surface section of the optoelectronic component, and wherein the electrical conductor section is mechanically butt-coupled to an electrical contact of the optoelectronic component.