LIDAR Waveguide Heating Layout for Precise Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIDAR technologies face challenges in accurately measuring range and velocity due to insufficient control over thermal behaviors and phase properties of optical waveguides, which affect the precision of light detection and ranging.
Innovation Solution
A LIDAR device with a waveguide and an ohmic element is integrated into a substrate layer, where the ohmic element imparts heat to the waveguide through an electrical current, modulating the phase of light propagation, and is coupled with a heat module to control thermal behavior by varying the heat dissipation rate through voids filled with materials like air, polymers, or metals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the waveguide is heated to modulate the phase of light propagation, then the phase control accuracy is improved, but the thermal management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional layers: a substrate layer containing voids for thermal management, a cladding layer for optical confinement, and an integrated ohmic element for heating. This segmentation allows independent optimization of thermal and optical functions, resolving the contradiction between phase control accuracy and thermal management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The voids filled with materials having specific thermal conductivity serve as intermediary elements between the ohmic heating element and the surrounding environment. These intermediaries enable precise control of heat dissipation rates, allowing accurate phase modulation while simplifying thermal management through controlled thermal pathways.
2Temperature
If the heat dissipation rate is increased to improve thermal management, then the temperature control is improved, but the phase modulation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conductivity of the void fill material can be dynamically selected or adjusted to match different operating conditions. By choosing materials with appropriate thermal conductivity values, the system achieves optimal balance between temperature control and phase modulation accuracy for different LIDAR operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal conductivity parameter of the void fill material to control the heat dissipation rate. This parameter adjustment enables fine-tuning of the thermal behavior, allowing the waveguide to achieve both good temperature control and accurate phase modulation by selecting fill materials with specific thermal properties.
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 design enhances the thermal management and phase control of light, improving the accuracy of range and velocity measurements in LIDAR systems, particularly in autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The ohmic element is arranged to impart heat to the waveguide in response to an electrical current that is provided to the ohmic element
Implementation Method 2
The waveguide has a higher refractive index than the cladding layer
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device in an integrated chip includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, a waveguide, and an ohmic element. The cladding layer is disposed with the substrate layer. The waveguide runs through the cladding layer. The ohmic element runs through the cladding layer. The ohmic element is arranged to impart heat to the waveguide when an electrical current is driven through the ohmic element.