Two-Stage Lattice Optical Multiplexer Rectangular Degree
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical wavelength multi/demultiplexers, such as parabola AWG-type and MZI-synchronized AWG-type, face challenges in achieving transmission characteristics with a rectangular degree higher than 4, which limits their performance in advanced optical communication networks requiring broad and flat passbands.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a two-stage lattice circuit with specific optical path length differences in the Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) circuit, allowing for precise control of light focusing positions and increased rectangular degree of transmission characteristics by including components of both ΔL and 2ΔL in the optical path length differences, thereby enhancing the rectangular degree of the transmission characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional MZI-synchronized AWG-type optical wavelength multi/demultiplexer is used, then transmission characteristics with rectangular degree up to 4 can be achieved, but the passband becomes limited and flatness is insufficient for advanced optical communication networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the MZI circuit into two stages, with each stage contributing different optical path length differences (ΔL and 2ΔL). This segmentation allows the system to achieve higher rectangular degree (up to 158% improvement) while maintaining broad and flat passband characteristics suitable for advanced optical communication networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by incorporating two different optical path length differences (ΔL and 2ΔL) in the two-stage MZI circuit, rather than using a single path length difference. This dimensional expansion in the parameter space enables simultaneous optimization of rectangular degree and passband flatness.
2Manufacturing precision
If optical path length difference is increased to improve rectangular degree, then transmission flatness improves, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MZI circuit into two stages with different optical path length differences (ΔL and 2ΔL). This segmentation allows achieving high rectangular degree (158% improvement) while distributing the complexity across manageable stages, making the overall system more manufacturable despite the increased path length differences.
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 approach results in a significant improvement of the rectangular degree of transmission characteristics, achieving up to 158% improvement compared to conventional MZI-synchronized AWG-type, enabling more efficient optical multi/demultiplexing in advanced networks with broader and flatter passbands.
Implementation Method 1
The light having the thus-obtained electric field distribution diffracts and passes through the first slab waveguide 101, and is then excited and propagates through each waveguide of the arrayed-waveguide 102. The light is focused at positions of the output waveguides 104 according to the optical frequencies in the second slab waveguide 103.
Implementation Method 2
Light incoming through the input waveguide 405 is distributed to the first and second arm waveguides 407 and 408 by the second optical coupler 409, and thus the light beams have a phase difference according to the optical frequencies due to the optical path difference between the waveguides 407 and 408. The light beams traveling the arm waveguides are combined by the first optical coupler 406 to interfere with each other.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided is an optical wavelength multi/demultiplexer having transmission characteristics with a higher rectangular degree than a conventional one. An example (1100) of a two-stage lattice circuit including an optical wavelength multi/demultiplexer according to the present invention includes an input waveguide (1101), a third optical coupler (1102), a third arm waveguide (1103), a fourth arm waveguide (1104), a second optical coupler (1105), a first arm waveguide (1106), a second arm waveguide (1107), a first optical coupler (1108), and output waveguides (1109). The optical path length difference between the third and fourth arm waveguides and the optical path length difference between the first and second arm waveguides are designed to be ΔL. The path passing through the third and first arm waveguides has an optical path length difference of 2•ΔL from the path passing through the fourth and second arm waveguides. The path passing through the third and second arm waveguides or the path passing through the fourth and first arm waveguides has an optical path length difference of ΔL from the path passing through the fourth and second arm waveguides.