Optical phase shifter with one or more integrated thermoelectric devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photonics chips with optical phase shifters face challenges in reducing layout area and operational overhead while effectively modulating light phase, particularly in achieving significant wavelength shifts without increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The structure incorporates a waveguide core with thermoelectric devices comprising alternating n-type and p-type semiconductor pillars, which are used to generate heat or cool specific branches of the waveguide core, allowing for precise control of temperature and wavelength shift through thermoelectric effects, thereby enhancing phase shifting capabilities without increasing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical phase shifters are used to achieve significant wavelength shifts, then phase modulation capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide core is divided into multiple branches (first branch and second branch) with thermoelectric devices applied selectively to specific branches. This segmentation allows independent temperature control of different waveguide paths, enabling precise phase modulation while minimizing overall power consumption by only heating or cooling the necessary portions rather than the entire waveguide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermoelectric devices are applied locally to specific branches of the waveguide core rather than uniformly across the entire structure. The alternating pattern of thermoelectric devices on different branches creates localized temperature differences that produce the desired phase shift without requiring high power consumption across the whole device, thus achieving wavelength shift capability with reduced energy use.
2Area of stationary object
If thermoelectric devices are integrated into the waveguide core to reduce layout area, then integration density is improved, but thermal management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermoelectric devices are integrated directly onto the waveguide core branches, merging the phase modulation function with the light propagation path. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate external thermal control systems, reducing layout area while the alternating configuration on different branches simplifies thermal management by creating self-balancing heat distribution patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoelectric devices are configured in an alternating pattern on different branches of the waveguide core, creating an asymmetric thermal distribution that is optimized for phase modulation. This asymmetric arrangement allows precise control of temperature differences between branches while maintaining compact integration, reducing both layout area and thermal management complexity compared to symmetric uniform heating approaches.
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 allows for significant wavelength differential and thermal stability, reducing the footprint of the optical phase shifter and minimizing thermal budget, while maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric device including a first plurality of pillars and a second plurality of pillars that alternate with the first plurality of pillars in a series circuit. The first plurality of pillars and the second plurality of pillars are disposed adjacent to the first branch of the waveguide core
Implementation Method 2
a first power supply coupled to the first series circuit, the first power supply configured to supply a current to the first plurality of pillars and the second plurality of pillars of the first thermoelectric device to generate heat for elevating the temperature of the first branch of the waveguide core
Data Source
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AI summary
Structures including an optical phase shifter and methods of forming a structure including an optical phase shifter. The structure comprises an optical phase shifter including a waveguide core having a first branch and a second branch laterally spaced from the first branch. The structure further comprises a thermoelectric device including a first plurality of pillars and a second plurality of pillars that alternate with the first plurality of pillars in a series circuit. The first plurality of pillars and the second plurality of pillars disposed adjacent to the first branch of the waveguide core, the first plurality of pillars comprises an n-type semiconductor material, and the second plurality of pillars comprises a p-type semiconductor material.