Optical Device with Butt-Joint Waveguides for High Baud Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical devices face challenges in achieving high baud rates due to high electric resistance in Si modulators and large frequency loss in P/N junction structures, making it difficult to integrate electro-optic materials like LiNbO3 effectively for ultrahigh-speed applications.
Innovation Solution
The optical device incorporates an optical modulator element with an electro-optic material, such as perovskite-type oxides, and a Si photonic receiver element, connected via inter-element waveguides by butt joint coupling, enabling efficient optical connection and downsizing while supporting baud rates of 96 Gbaud/second or higher.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If Si photonic elements are used for optical transceivers, then device integration and downsizing are achieved, but electric resistance in modulators increases and frequency loss in P/N junction structures increases, limiting baud rate to 64 Gbaud/second or lower
Solution Approach 1:
The optical transceiver is divided into separate functional modules: an optical modulator element using electro-optic material LiNbO3 for high-speed modulation, and an optical receiver element using Si photonic elements for reception. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific function, combining the advantages of both material systems without the drawbacks of integrating them in conventional Si-only architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
Inter-element waveguides serve as intermediaries to couple the optical modulator element and optical receiver element together. These waveguides enable efficient optical signal transmission between the different material systems, bridging the gap between electro-optic modulation and Si-based reception while maintaining signal integrity at high baud rates.
2Speed
If electro-optic materials like LiNbO3 are integrated with Si photonic elements, then ultrahigh-speed operations at 96 Gbaud/second or higher are enabled, but integration process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the optical modulator and receiver into distinct elements with different material systems, the patent simplifies the overall integration process. Each element can be fabricated using its own optimized process technology, and the modules are coupled through standardized inter-element waveguide interfaces, reducing the complexity compared to monolithic integration of electro-optic and Si photonic components.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional Si modulators are used, then device manufacturing is simplified, but electric resistance increases making ultrahigh-speed operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the modulation function from the Si photonic element and places it in a separate optical modulator element using electro-optic material LiNbO3. This extraction removes the limitation of high electric resistance inherent in Si modulators, as the electro-optic material provides superior modulation performance with lower resistance, while the Si receiver element maintains its manufacturing advantages.
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 allows for improved properties and downsizing of optical devices, facilitating ultrahigh-speed operations without the need for complex integration processes, and reduces insertion loss due to matching thermal expansion coefficients.
Implementation Method 1
an optical modulator element (2) including a first optical waveguide (4), a second optical waveguide (6), and an optical modulator (310) including an electro-optic material
Implementation Method 2
The optical device (1) has an inter-element waveguide (8) that optically connects the optical modulator element (2) and the optical receiver element (3) to each other
Implementation Method 3
The PBS 222 separates the received light input from the reception optical waveguide 233 into two orthogonal polarization states
Implementation Method 4
the first PR 223 causes polarization rotation of the Y polarization component from the PBS 222 by 90 degrees
Implementation Method 5
The first optical hybrid circuit 224A causes local light to interfere with the X polarization component of the received light
Implementation Method 6
first to fourth photodiodes (PDs) 225
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device has an optical modulator element and an optical receiver element. The optical modulator element includes a first optical waveguide extending to a first end face, a first inter-element waveguide extending to a second end face, and an optical modulator including an electro-optic material. The optical receiver element includes a second optical waveguide extending to a third end face, a second inter-element waveguide extending to a fourth end face, an optical receiver, and a polarization element. In the optical device, the first inter-element waveguide and the second inter-element waveguide have been connected to each other by being butted against each other.