Isolated Modulator Electrodes for Differential Driving

Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-channel optoelectronic devices, providing a common ground contact for modulators limits the ability to drive each modulator with a differential signal, leading to increased power consumption and reduced transmission speeds, especially when integrated on a single chip.

Innovation Solution

The integration of isolated modulator electrodes, including both anodes and cathodes, allows for separate electrical isolation and differential driving of each modulator, enabling low-power operation and increased transmission speeds by separating the electrical contacts of lasers and modulators on a single chip or substrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common ground contact is provided for modulators in multi-channel devices, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases and transmission speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the electrical contact structure into separate segments for each modulator channel. Instead of a single common ground contact, each modulator has its own dedicated electrical contacts (anode and cathode), allowing independent differential signaling. This segmentation enables lower power consumption and higher transmission speeds while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar contact arrangement to a three-dimensional contact structure by adding isolated contact points at different vertical levels. The modulator electrodes are positioned at different heights above the substrate, creating vertical separation that enables independent electrical paths for differential signaling without increasing horizontal complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If a common ground contact is provided for modulators, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidtransmission speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the electrical contact structure into separate segments for each modulator channel. Instead of a single common ground contact, each modulator has its own dedicated electrical contacts (anode and cathode), allowing independent differential signaling. This segmentation enables lower power consumption and higher transmission speeds while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar contact arrangement to a three-dimensional contact structure by adding isolated contact points at different vertical levels. The modulator electrodes are positioned at different heights above the substrate, creating vertical separation that enables independent electrical paths for differential signaling without increasing horizontal complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If modulators are integrated on a single chip with common electrical contacts, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to drive each modulator with a differential signal is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoiddifferential signaling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the electrical contact structure into separate segments for each modulator channel. Instead of a single common ground contact, each modulator has its own dedicated electrical contacts (anode and cathode), allowing independent differential signaling. This segmentation enables lower power consumption and higher transmission speeds while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar contact arrangement to a three-dimensional contact structure by adding isolated contact points at different vertical levels. The modulator electrodes are positioned at different heights above the substrate, creating vertical separation that enables independent electrical paths for differential signaling without increasing horizontal complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS8948227B2Isolated modulator electrodes for low power consumption

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 SOURCE PHOTONICS INC

AI summary

A light-emitting device, multi-channel light-emitting device, and method(s) of making the same are disclosed. The light-emitting device can include a substrate; a lower contact layer on or over the substrate comprising a first lower contact in a first region and a plurality of second lower contacts in a second region; a plurality of light-emitting thin film devices on or over the first lower contact in the first region; a plurality of light-modulating thin film devices on or over the plurality of second lower contacts in the second region; a plurality of first upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-emitting thin film devices; a plurality of second upper contacts on or over the plurality of light-modulating thin film devices; and an isolation region between the first and second regions, electrically separating the plurality of first upper contacts and the plurality of second upper contacts.