Multi-Grating Photonics Couplers for Wider Wavelength Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
The bandwidth of semiconductor photonics devices is limited by components such as grating couplers, which can only handle a limited bandwidth due to data being multiplexed onto different wavelengths of an optical signal.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor photonics device is designed with multiple grating couplers, each configured to couple a particular wavelength or wavelength range of an optical signal to a waveguide, using optical signal splitters or filters to distribute wavelengths across multiple grating couplers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single grating coupler is used, then the device structure is simple, but the bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical coupling function into multiple independent grating couplers, each handling a specific wavelength range. This segmentation allows the system to process broader bandwidth by distributing different wavelength components across multiple couplers, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and bandwidth limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wavelength division as an additional dimension for signal processing. By utilizing multiple grating couplers tuned to different wavelength ranges, the system expands the operational bandwidth beyond what a single coupler can handle, effectively adding a spectral dimension to the coupling architecture.
2Productivity
If multiple grating couplers are used, then the bandwidth is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple grating couplers that share the same basic structural design and coupling mechanism, but are tuned to different wavelength ranges. This multi-functional approach allows identical structural elements to serve different spectral purposes, increasing bandwidth while minimizing the introduction of fundamentally new complex components.
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 increases the bandwidth of the semiconductor photonics device by allowing multiple wavelengths or wavelength ranges to be handled by multiple grating couplers, exceeding the limitations of devices with single grating couplers.
Implementation Method 1
a first grating coupler coupled with the waveguide and configured to couple a first wavelength of the optical signal to the waveguide; a second grating coupler coupled with the waveguide and configured to couple a second wavelength of the optical signal to the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor photonics device includes a plurality of grating couplers, each configured to couple a particular wavelength (or wavelength range) of an optical signal to a waveguide of the semiconductor photonics device. In some implementations, various implementations of optical signal splitters or filters described herein enable respective wavelengths (or respective wavelength ranges) to be passed to each of the grating couplers (while filtering out other wavelengths or other wavelength ranges), thereby enabling the grating couplers to each handle a respective wavelength (or respective wavelength range). This enables multiple wavelengths (or multiple wavelength ranges) to be distributed across multiple grating couplers, which may increase the bandwidth of the semiconductor photonics device relative to a semiconductor photonics device that includes only a single grating coupler.