Optical Modulator Relay Substrate Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed, large-capacity optical fiber communication systems face significant heat generation issues in optical modulators with traveling wave type electrodes, particularly in DP-QPSK configurations, leading to temperature drift, reliability deterioration, and increased size and costs due to heat management challenges.
Innovation Solution
The optical modulator design incorporates terminating units with terminal resistors on a relay substrate, which relays electrical signals and efficiently diffuses heat, reducing the influence of heat generated by terminal resistors and allowing for a smaller, more cost-effective device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If terminal resistors are disposed on a terminal substrate in a DP-QPSK optical modulator, then the modulation capacity is increased to 32 Gbps or more, but the heat generated in the terminal substrate causes temperature drift and reliability deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the terminal substrate into multiple heat dissipation regions with different thermal conductivities. By segmenting the substrate and assigning different thermal properties to different regions, the patent achieves both high transmission capacity and reduced temperature drift, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different thermal conductivities in specific locations where terminal resistors are disposed. This allows heat to be dissipated more effectively in critical areas while maintaining the overall structure needed for high-speed modulation, thereby reducing temperature drift without compromising transmission capacity.
2Ease of operation
If terminal resistors are disposed on a terminal substrate, then electrical signals can be terminated, but the heat generated causes cracking and separation of the terminal resistors over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different thermal conductivities in specific locations where terminal resistors are disposed. This allows heat to be dissipated more effectively in critical areas while maintaining the overall structure needed for high-speed modulation, thereby reducing temperature drift without compromising transmission capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful heat generated by terminal resistors into a manageable thermal distribution pattern by using regions with different thermal conductivities. This transforms the heat problem into a controlled thermal management solution, preventing resistor cracking and separation while maintaining signal termination functionality.
3Productivity
If a plurality of DP-QPSK modulator configurations are incorporated into the same housing, then transmission capacity increases, but the amount of heat generated becomes 32 times or more that of a single modulator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the terminal substrate into multiple heat dissipation regions, allowing each region to manage heat from specific terminal resistors. This segmentation enables effective heat management in multi-modulator configurations, supporting increased transmission capacity while controlling overall heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter of different substrate regions to optimize heat dissipation. By adjusting this physical parameter locally, the patent enables multiple modulators to operate in the same housing without excessive heat accumulation, thereby supporting high transmission capacity while managing temperature.
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 configuration effectively suppresses heat generation and temperature drift, enhancing the reliability and reducing the size of the optical modulator while maintaining high transmission capacity, thereby stabilizing transmission characteristics and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a relay substrate that is disposed in the vicinity of the optical waveguide substrate and includes electrical wirings for relaying electrical signals from the outside to the control electrode... efficiently diffuses heat
Implementation Method 2
almost all of the input electric energy is consumed in the terminal resistors 70 and converted into heat there
Implementation Method 3
an optical modulator in which LiNbO3 (referred to as 'LN') having an electrooptic effect is used for a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A small and inexpensive optical modulator having suppressed temperature drift and high reliability and an optical transmission device using the same are provided. The optical modulator includes an optical waveguide substrate where an optical waveguide is formed; a control electrode that is provided on the optical waveguide substrate and applies an electric field to the optical waveguide; and a relay substrate that is disposed in the vicinity of the optical waveguide substrate and includes electrical wirings that relay electrical signals from the outside to the control electrode. The control electrode includes a signal electrode. The optical modulator comprises terminating units that include terminal resistors that terminate the signal electrode. At least a part of the terminating units are provided on the relay substrate.