Optical Phase Shifter with Variable Waveguide Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical switches face challenges in maintaining a high extinction ratio over a wide wavelength range due to manufacturing errors and wavelength dependence, leading to deteriorated performance and reduced manufacturing tolerance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an optical phase shifter with two waveguides of different widths, where one waveguide has a wider or narrower section, optimizing the parameters to ensure a constant phase shift across a wide wavelength range, thereby enhancing the optical switch's performance and tolerance to manufacturing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical switches use standard waveguide configurations, then manufacturing is simpler, but the extinction ratio deteriorates over wide wavelength ranges due to manufacturing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating waveguides with non-uniform width along their length. Specifically, the waveguide width varies at different sections to compensate for wavelength-dependent phase shifts. This local variation in geometric properties allows the device to maintain consistent optical performance across wide wavelength ranges, directly addressing the extinction ratio problem caused by manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the waveguide, specifically the width, as a function of position. By carefully designing the width profile (e.g., tapered sections or stepped variations), the optical path length and phase velocity are modified to achieve wavelength-independent operation. This parameter change approach transforms the device from being sensitive to manufacturing errors to being robust across wavelength variations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If optical phase shifters are designed for narrow wavelength ranges, then phase shift control is more precise, but the operational bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by varying the waveguide width to create a dispersion-compensated structure. This geometric modification causes the optical phase shift to become relatively independent of wavelength, allowing the device to maintain precise phase control (e.g., π/2 or π shifts) across broad wavelength ranges including C-band and L-band operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the waveguide geometry through non-uniform width profiles. This asymmetric design breaks the symmetry that typically causes wavelength-dependent phase behavior, enabling the phase shifter to deliver consistent performance across different wavelengths while maintaining precise phase control capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If waveguide width is increased to reduce manufacturing error impact, then manufacturing tolerance improves, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing width variations only in specific sections of the waveguide rather than uniformly increasing the width throughout. This localized geometric modification achieves the desired tolerance compensation while minimizing the overall device footprint, avoiding the penalty of increased device size.
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 achieves a high extinction ratio and stable operation over a wide wavelength range, even with deviations in waveguide width due to manufacturing errors, resulting in improved optical switch performance and increased manufacturing tolerance.
Implementation Method 1
an optical phase shifter using an optical waveguide and operating in a wide wavelength range
Data Source
AI summary
An optical phase shifter in which a phase shift amount is kept constant in a wide wavelength region is provided. One aspect is the optical phase shifter constituting of two waveguides of a basic width, and configured so that two lights propagating through each waveguide have a phase difference, including a different type waveguide arranged in at least one of the two waveguides and having a waveguide width different from the basic width, and a configuration of the different type waveguide and a parameter of the two waveguides and different type waveguide are optimized.