Multichannel Laser Source Bus Waveguide Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multichannel laser sources face challenges with channel spacing, high optical losses, and increased complexity due to the use of external optical multiplexers and ring resonator tunable filters, which limit their effectiveness in achieving a broad wavelength span and high channel density.
Innovation Solution
A multichannel laser source design incorporating a bus waveguide, semiconductor optical amplifiers, wavelength-dependent couplers, and vernier ring resonator filters, which allow for internal gain selection and light combination within the laser cavity, reducing the need for external components and minimizing optical losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If external optical multiplexers are used to combine laser channels, then channel combination is achieved, but optical losses increase and channel spacing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the channel combining function directly into the laser cavity structure by integrating wavelength-dependent couplers with the bus waveguide. This eliminates the need for separate external multiplexers, thereby reducing optical losses while achieving channel combination. The couplers are positioned within the cavity to combine multiple channel outputs directly at the laser source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the channel combining function from external components and relocates it inside the laser cavity. By removing the external multiplexer and integrating the combining function into internal wavelength-dependent couplers, the system reduces optical losses and eliminates the limitations of external combining approaches.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external ring resonator tunable filters are used to combine light, then wavelength tuning is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wavelength tuning function with the channel combining function by integrating wavelength-dependent couplers directly into the laser cavity. This merger eliminates the need for separate external ring resonator filters, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining wavelength tuning capability through the integrated coupler design.
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength-dependent couplers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as wavelength selectors, channel combiners, and cavity elements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external filters and stabilization circuits, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability for wavelength tuning.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple MUXs are connected to combine outputs, then channel density increases, but optical losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all channel combining operations into a single integrated cavity structure with wavelength-dependent couplers positioned along the bus waveguide. This eliminates the need for multiple cascaded MUXs, thereby achieving high channel density while minimizing optical losses through a single-pass combining approach.
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 enables efficient light combination across multiple channels with reduced optical losses and complexity, achieving a broad wavelength span while maintaining high channel density and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a first wavelength-dependent coupler having a first resonant wavelength; a second wavelength-dependent coupler having a second resonant wavelength, different from the first resonant wavelength; the first wavelength-dependent coupler being configured to transmit light, at the second resonant wavelength, from the bus input of the first wavelength-dependent coupler to the bus output of the first wavelength-dependent coupler
Implementation Method 2
a first semiconductor optical amplifier; a second semiconductor optical amplifier
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-channel laser source, including: a bus waveguide coupled, at an output end of the bus waveguide, to an output of the multi-channel laser source; a first semiconductor optical amplifier; a first back mirror; a first wavelength-dependent coupler, having a first resonant wavelength, on the bus waveguide; a second semiconductor optical amplifier; a second back mirror; and a second wavelength-dependent coupler, on the bus waveguide, having a second resonant wavelength, different from the first resonant wavelength. In some embodiments the first semiconductor optical amplifier is coupled to the bus waveguide by the first wavelength-dependent coupler, which is nearer to the output end of the bus waveguide than the second wavelength-dependent coupler, the second semiconductor optical amplifier is coupled to the bus waveguide by the second wavelength-dependent coupler, and the first wavelength-dependent coupler is configured to transmit light, at the second resonant wavelength, along the bus waveguide.