Electro-optical modulator flexible coplanar strip line connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-optical modulators face challenges in improving their frequency response due to the inductance of bonding wires, which causes reflection of high-frequency electrical signals and deteriorates the modulators' performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a flexible coplanar strip line for electrical connections between driver units and electrode arrangements, which are capacitively coupled, allowing for improved high-frequency characteristics and reduced power loss, enabling compact and efficient modulator designs with lower thermal crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bonding wires are used to connect driver units to travelling wave electrodes, then the electrical connection is simple and easy to manufacture, but the inductance of the bonding wires causes reflection of high frequency electrical signals and deteriorates the frequency response of the modulators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the bonding wires from the electrical connection structure, replacing them with a coplanar strip line configuration where electrical lines are directly patterned on the substrate. This eliminates the inductive effects of bonding wires while maintaining electrical connectivity between driver units and waveguide electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical bonding wire connection system with an integrated coplanar strip line system where electrical connections are formed as planar conductive traces on the substrate. This substitution eliminates the three-dimensional inductive structure in favor of a two-dimensional planar structure with controlled impedance characteristics.
2Temperature
If conventional electrical connections are used between driver units and electrode arrangements, then the assembly is simple, but thermal crosstalk between the driver unit and modulator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coplanar strip line configuration with dedicated electrical lines that act as intermediaries between driver units and waveguide electrodes. These controlled-impedance transmission lines provide thermal isolation while maintaining electrical signal integrity, reducing thermal crosstalk compared to direct bonding wire connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional bonding wire connections to a two-dimensional coplanar strip line layout. This dimensional change allows for optimized spacing and thermal management, as the electrical connections are distributed across the substrate plane rather than concentrated in vertical bonding structures, thereby reducing thermal coupling.
3Loss of energy
If the optical waveguides are made broader to reduce power loss, then the power efficiency improves, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dimensions and geometric parameters of the optical waveguides to achieve low power loss without excessive size increase. By carefully controlling waveguide width, height, and spacing parameters, the design achieves efficient light confinement and low propagation loss while maintaining compact dimensions suitable for integrated photonic circuits.
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 solution enhances the frequency response and power efficiency of electro-optical modulators, facilitating the development of compact high-frequency modules with reduced thermal issues and increased transmission rates, such as 100 Gbit/s in CFP4 module size.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of capacitive elements formed by capacitive segments of the second optical waveguide; wherein the waveguide electrodes are capacitively coupled to the driver units via the capacitive segments and the capacitive elements
Implementation Method 2
each one of the electrical connections between the driver units and the electrode arrangement comprise a flexible coplanar strip line
Implementation Method 3
at least one electro-optical phase modulator having a first optical waveguide
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The invention relates to an electro-optical modulator device, comprising at least one electro-optical phase modulator (100) having one optically active optical waveguide (112) and an electrode arrangement (1) for applying a voltage across the active optical waveguide (112), wherein the electrode arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of waveguide electrodes (113) arranged on top of capacitive segments (114) formed by the optically active waveguide (112); and a plurality of capacitive elements. According to the invention, the modulator further comprises a plurality of driver units (30, 30a-d) for supplying a voltage to the electrode arrangement (1); and electrical connections between the driver units (30, 30a-d) and the electrode arrangement (1), wherein the waveguide electrodes (113) are capacitively coupled to the driver units (30, 30a-d) via the capacitive segments (114) and the capacitive elements and the electrical connections, wherein each one of the electrical connections between the driver units (30, 30a-d) and the electrode arrangement (1) comprise a flexible coplanar strip line (50, 50a-d).