Optoelectronic Modulator Inverse Design for Optical-Electrical Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing design techniques for optoelectronic modulators are limited in their ability to optimize both optical and electrical structural parameters, leading to suboptimal performance in fiber-optic communication systems.
Innovation Solution
Employing inverse design and iterative gradient-based optimization to simultaneously adjust optical and electrical structural parameters, using computing systems to simulate performance, determine loss metrics, and backpropagate gradients for refining the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional separate optimization methods are used for optical and electrical parameters, then the design process is simpler, but the overall performance of the optoelectronic modulator is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optimization of optical structural parameters and electrical structural parameters into a single unified inverse design process. The computing system simultaneously adjusts both types of parameters together rather than separately, allowing the optical waveguide geometry and electrical electrode configuration to be co-optimized for maximum modulator performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the computing system simulates the modulator performance based on current parameter values, calculates a loss metric indicating performance deficiency, backpropagates this loss to determine gradients, and uses these gradients to update the parameters iteratively. This closed-loop feedback process continues until performance targets are achieved.
2Productivity
If inverse design with combined optimization is employed, then modulation efficiency and phase shift management are improved, but the computational complexity and design process time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional manual or separate iterative optimization methods with a unified computational inverse design system. The computing system automatically performs simulations, loss calculations, gradient backpropagation, and parameter updates in an integrated workflow, eliminating the need for manual intervention and separate optimization processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies both optical parameters (waveguide width, height, length) and electrical parameters (electrode position, width, voltage) simultaneously during the optimization process. The computing system adjusts these parameters based on backpropagated gradients from performance loss, enabling efficient exploration of the combined parameter space to achieve optimal modulation efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for creating a design for an optoelectronic modulator device is provided. A computing system determines an initial design that includes optical structural parameters and electrical structural parameters for a design region. The computing system simulates electrical performance based on the electrical structural parameters to adjust optical characteristics of the optical structural parameters. The computing system simulates optical performance of the optical structural parameters having the adjusted optical characteristics to generate a performance loss value. The computing system determines a loss metric based on the performance loss value. The computing system backpropagates the loss metric to determine a structural gradient. The computing system revises at least one of the optical structural parameters and the electrical structural parameters based at least in part on the structural gradient to create an updated initial design.