Optical Pulse Delay Generator Using Waveguide Resonator Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical pulse delay generators face limitations in achieving large delay amounts with easy tunability, often resulting in high signal attenuation, limited delay-bandwidth products, and complex, power-consuming wavelength shift methods.
Innovation Solution
An optical pulse delay generator comprising dispersive first and second optical converters with waveguide resonator rings of differing optical lengths, integrated on a semiconductor substrate, allowing for large bandwidth and easy tuning through phase modulation and carrier injection/depletion in p-i-n diodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transmission media length is changed to produce large delay range, then delay tunability is improved, but signal attenuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic delay tuning by changing the refractive index of the transmission media through carrier injection/depletion in p-i-n diodes, rather than physically changing the media length. This allows continuous delay adjustment without increasing physical path length, thereby maintaining low signal attenuation while achieving large delay range and high tunability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameter (refractive index) of the transmission media by controlling carrier concentration in the semiconductor material. By injecting or depleting carriers via p-i-n diodes, the refractive index is dynamically adjusted, which changes the group velocity of light and从而实现 variable delay without changing the physical length of the media, avoiding the attenuation problem associated with longer transmission paths.
2Duration of action of moving object
If material based slow light techniques are used to produce delay, then delay amount is improved, but delay-bandwidth product is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes in the transmission media (refractive index modulation via carrier injection) to achieve both large delay amounts and high bandwidth. By dynamically controlling the carrier concentration in the semiconductor transmission media, the system can simultaneously maintain large group delay and wide bandwidth, overcoming the fundamental limitation of material-based slow light techniques where delay-bandwidth product is constrained.
3Duration of action of moving object
If structure based slow light methods are used to increase delay, then delay amount is improved, but higher order phase distortions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the transmission media uniformly across the entire optical path by controlling carrier concentration, rather than using complex structural modifications like fiber Bragg gratings. This uniform parameter change approach achieves large delay amounts while minimizing higher order phase distortions, as the entire transmission path experiences consistent refractive index modulation without the spatially varying phase profiles introduced by structured approaches.
4Adaptability or versatility
If wavelength conversion methods are used to achieve delay, then delay tunability is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex wavelength conversion subsystem (tunable lasers and filters) from the delay generator architecture. Instead, it directly modulates the refractive index of the transmission media to achieve delay tuning, thereby achieving high delay tunability without the structural complexity and power consumption associated with wavelength conversion methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/optical wavelength conversion system with an electrical control system that directly modulates the refractive index of the transmission media through carrier injection/depletion in p-i-n diodes. This substitution eliminates the need for complex tunable lasers and filters, achieving delay tunability through a simpler, more power-efficient electrical control mechanism.
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
The solution provides a high bandwidth and flexible delay generation with reduced phase distortions, enabling large delay amounts and easy tuning, while maintaining low power consumption and integration complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical converter which is dispersive and separates the spectral components of the incoming optical pulse in a time domain
Implementation Method 2
a second optical converter connected to the modulator, said second optical converter being dispersive for overlaying the previously separated spectral components in the time domain
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the first and second optical converter comprises at least two waveguide resonator rings which differ in their optical length
Implementation Method 4
allowing for large bandwidth and easy tuning through phase modulation and carrier injection/depletion in p-i-n diodes
Data Source
AI summary
An optical pulse delay generator is provided. The optical pulse delay generator includes a first optical converter which is dispersive and separates the spectral components of the incoming optical pulse in a time domain. The first optical converter generating a converted optical signal. The optical pulse delay generator also includes a modulator to modulate the converted optical signal and to generate a modulated optical signal and a second optical converter connected to the modulator. The second optical converter being dispersive for overlaying the previously separated spectral components in the time domain and generating the delayed optical output pulse. The dispersion imposed by the second optical converter has the same amount of dispersion, but the opposite sign, as the first optical converter. At least one of the first and second optical converter includes at least two waveguide resonator rings which differ in their optical length.