Nanostructure Spectrometer Substrate Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectrometers require large physical dimensions to achieve high spectral resolution due to the need for spatial separation of wavelengths using diffraction gratings, which limits their compactness and increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
Employing nanostructures, such as photonic crystals or plasmonic structures, integrated into the substrate or optically coupled to it, allows for the extraction and spatial resolution of electromagnetic energy via major faces rather than edges, enabling more compact and efficient optical sensors and spectrometers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional diffraction gratings are used to spatially separate wavelengths, then spectral resolution is improved, but physical dimensions of the spectrometer must be large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the conventional approach by changing the physical parameters of wavelength separation from macroscopic diffraction gratings to nanoscale photonic crystal structures. The periodic features at the nanoscale create photonic bandgaps that enable wavelength-dependent light extraction, achieving spectral resolution without requiring large physical dimensions. The lattice constant and geometry of the photonic crystal features are precisely controlled to achieve the desired spectral separation in a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional spatial separation using diffraction gratings to three-dimensional wavelength control using photonic crystal bandgap structures. The photonic crystal operates in multiple dimensions with periodic features arranged in a lattice structure, enabling wavelength separation through the photonic bandgap effect rather than relying solely on spatial distance, thus achieving compact spectral resolution.
2Reliability
If edge injection is used for planar waveguides to achieve propagation via total internal reflection, then electromagnetic energy transmission is improved, but structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by changing the injection face from the edge to the major face of the substrate. Instead of injecting light through the thin edge and relying on total internal reflection at the major faces, the invention injects light through the major face directly into the waveguide layer, simplifying the structural requirements and manufacturing process while maintaining effective electromagnetic energy transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the wavelength selection function from the edge injection mechanism and implements it through photonic crystal structures with periodic features that create photonic bandgaps. This separates the functions of light injection (through major face) and wavelength control (through photonic crystal extraction), simplifying the overall structure and reducing manufacturing complexity.
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 approach reduces the need for complex edge structures, allows for larger areas of electromagnetic energy coupling, and results in a more compact and cost-effective design while maintaining high spectral resolution.
Implementation Method 1
Photonic crystals can generally be employed in three ways. For example, as photonic bandgap structures localize or guide light of certain wavelength ranges in defects because the wavelength range is gapped in the structure
Implementation Method 2
Employing nanostructures, such as photonic crystals or plasmonic structures, integrated into the substrate or optically coupled to it
Implementation Method 3
as super prisms having enhanced diffraction like properties, allowing a stronger prism effect to be achieved from a given material
Implementation Method 4
Employing input optics to cause electromagnetic energy to enter via a major face
Implementation Method 5
To achieve propagation (i.e., transmission along a length of the waveguide via total internal reflection for electromagnetic energy entering the waveguide at angles greater than a critical angle for the waveguide)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a substrate transmissive of electromagnetic energy of at least a plurality of wavelengths, having a first end, a second end, a first major face, a second major face, at least one edge, a length, a width, and a thickness, at least a first nanostructure that selectively extracts electromagnetic energy of a first set of wavelengths from the substrate; and an input optic oriented and positioned to provide electromagnetic energy into the substrate via at least one of the first or the second major face of the substrate. Nanostructures can take the form of photonic crystal arrays, a plasmonic structure arrays, or holographic diffraction gratings. The apparatus may be part of a spectrometer.