Optical Module Thermal Stability via Silica Waveguide Multiplexer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Silicon photonics-based optical devices face challenges with insertion loss, thermal stability, and polarization characteristics, hindering the development of high-speed, small-size, and low-cost optical transceivers for data center networks.
Innovation Solution
The optical module employs a silica optical waveguide-based wavelength multiplexer and demultiplexer, with a DC light source power supply spaced apart from the main heat source, using a silicon photonics-based optical device block for modulation and demodulation, ensuring thermal stability and improved performance by maintaining light source intensity and reducing temperature and polarization dependency losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If silicon photonics-based optical devices are used to reduce size and cost, then manufacturing scalability improves, but insertion loss and thermal stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical module is divided into distinct functional blocks: a silicon photonics-based optical device block for modulation/demodulation and a silica optical waveguide-based multiplexing block for wavelength management. This segmentation allows each block to be optimized for its specific function, with the silica waveguide block providing superior thermal and polarization stability independent of the silicon photonics block.
Solution Approach 2:
Silica optical waveguides serve as an intermediary between the silicon photonics-based optical device and the external optical fiber. The silica waveguide multiplexer and demultiplexer act as mediators that convert signals between the silicon photonics domain and the silica waveguide domain, providing thermal and polarization isolation while maintaining optical functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If DC light sources are placed close to the optical transceiver for compact design, then device size reduces, but thermal stability and light source performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The DC light source is extracted from the immediate vicinity of the optical transceiver and positioned separately, connected through an optical fiber. This extraction removes the heat-generating light source from the thermal environment of the optical device, improving thermal stability while the optical fiber maintains the optical connection, thus preserving light source performance without sacrificing compactness.
3Reliability
If silica optical waveguide-based multiplexer is used to reduce temperature dependency, then thermal stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standard, commercially available silica optical waveguide components and multiplexer modules that can be easily integrated. These off-the-shelf components provide the necessary thermal stability without requiring complex custom-designed multiplexing systems, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 enhances thermal stability and performance of DC light sources, addresses insertion loss, temperature, and polarization dependency issues, enabling high-speed and cost-effective optical transceivers for data center networks.
Implementation Method 1
an optical power supply spaced a predetermined distance apart from a main heat source present in the optical module and connected to the optical transceiver through a DC light source optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
DC light sources having different wavelengths multiplexed and output by the optical power supply
Implementation Method 3
silica optical waveguide-based wavelength multiplexer and wavelength demultiplexer
Implementation Method 4
silica optical waveguide-based wavelength multiplexer and wavelength demultiplexer
Implementation Method 5
optical modulating device included in a silicon photonics-based optical device block
Implementation Method 6
optical modulating device included in a silicon photonics-based optical device block
Implementation Method 7
DC light source optical fiber connected to the optical power supply and a transmission optical fiber and a reception optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
An optical module includes an interface electrically connected to an external device to receive a data signal to be transmitted, a signal processor configured to perform serialization and signal modulation on the received data signal, an optical transceiver configured to generate an optical transmission signal by receiving a direct current (DC) light source, in which a plurality of light sources having different wavelengths are multiplexed, from an optical power supply and performing optical modulation thereon through the serialized and modulated data signal, and an optical fiber connector configured to output the generated optical transmission signal to the external device and receive an optical reception signal from the external device.