Nested-Winding Optical Resonator Coils for Longer Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing the round trip path length in optical resonator coils without enlarging their size is challenging, as conventional methods require additional windings that increase coil size, which is undesirable in space-constrained applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a resonator coil with nested winding optical waveguides optically coupled by couplers, where each successive waveguide is nested within the previous one, allowing for increased path length without increasing the cross-sectional area or volume, and using adiabatic tapers for high coupling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If more windings are added to the optical resonator coil to increase round trip path length, then the performance of optical applications is improved, but the coil size increases which is undesirable for space-constrained applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested windings where inner windings are positioned within the region bounded by outer windings. Specifically, the second winding is nested within the region surrounded by the first winding, and the third winding is nested within the region surrounded by the second winding. This nesting arrangement allows multiple windings to occupy the same spatial footprint, thereby increasing the round trip path length without increasing the overall coil size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar two-dimensional winding arrangement to a three-dimensional nested configuration. By utilizing the vertical dimension and positioning windings at different heights (with inner windings below outer windings), the design achieves increased path length within the same lateral footprint, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the winding layout.
2Measurement precision
If the round trip path length is increased to decrease free spectral range and increase resonance density, then measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional windings and couplers
Solution Approach 1:
The nested winding configuration allows the patent to achieve high resonance density by increasing the round trip path length within a compact structure. The nested arrangement of multiple windings with optical couplers between them creates multiple resonance paths without requiring a proportionally large increase in device volume, thereby improving measurement precision while controlling device 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 enhances optical path length, decreases free spectral range, increases resonance density, and improves sensitivity and reduces phase noise in optical systems like gyroscopes by maintaining a high quality factor and lower line widths.
Implementation Method 1
an optical coupler between the exterior winding optical waveguide and the interior winding optical waveguide. The exterior winding optical waveguide is optically coupled, by the optical coupler, to the interior winding optical waveguide
Data Source
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Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An optical resonator with increased free spectral range and substantially no increase in volume is provided. The optical resonator includes N winding optical waveguides where each n-1 winding optical waveguide is within a corresponding n winding optical waveguide and N is an integer greater than one. The n-1 and n winding optical waveguides are optically coupled by an optical coupler having substantially one hundred percent optical coupling.