Optical Signal Control Device with Segmented Interaction Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical signal control devices face challenges in achieving accurate and flexible control of delay times for high bandwidth optical circuits, leading to issues with signal attenuation, complex designs, and reduced expandability, while existing solutions fail to provide feasible structures for precise control of electrical wire delay and light propagation delay.
Innovation Solution
An optical signal control device with multiple optical waveguides and interaction regions, where phase control means synchronize the timing of data signals with the carrier light, allowing for precise phase and amplitude modulation, enabling external programmable control of delay times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the interaction length is increased to improve electric field strength, then the modulation efficiency is improved, but the element capacitance increases and bandwidth decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single long interaction region into multiple segmented interaction regions along the light propagation direction. Each segment has its own electrode structure, allowing the total interaction length to be maintained for efficient modulation while reducing the capacitance of individual segments. This segmentation enables the system to achieve both high modulation efficiency and high bandwidth by preventing the capacitance from scaling linearly with total length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs traveling-wave electrode structures where the electrical signal propagates dynamically along the interaction region rather than being applied statically. This dynamic approach allows the electric field to interact with the optical wave throughout the entire interaction length, maintaining high modulation efficiency while the distributed nature of the traveling wave reduces the effective capacitance compared to a static voltage applied across the full length.
2Productivity
If the data symbol frequency is increased to enhance transmission bandwidth efficiency, then the transmission capacity is improved, but the signal attenuation increases and requires higher bandwidth elements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the interaction region into multiple shorter sections, the patent reduces the capacitance of each segment, which directly improves the bandwidth capability of the modulation elements. This enables the system to operate at higher data symbol frequencies with reduced signal attenuation, as each segment can respond more quickly to high-frequency signals without excessive capacitive loading.
3Productivity
If complex electrical signal processing is used to generate multilevel signals, then the transmission bandwidth efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electrical signal processing circuits with direct optical domain operations. By using multiple parallel optical waveguides or spatially separated interaction regions, the system can generate multilevel modulation formats (such as QAM) through optical interference and combination of multiple simpler modulation signals, avoiding the need for complex electrical signal generation and conversion circuits.
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 solution provides a simple, highly expandable, and accurately controllable optical signal control method, capable of synchronizing data signal timing with light propagation, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies and enhancing bandwidth efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
outputting output light generated by changing an amplitude and a phase of input carrier light
Implementation Method 2
outputting output light generated by changing an amplitude and a phase of input carrier light
Implementation Method 3
m (m is an integer of one or more) number of optical waveguides arranged in parallel between light input and light output, for letting the carrier light propagate therethrough
Implementation Method 4
(m×n) number of interaction regions, n (n is an integer of one or more) number of interaction regions formed on each of the m number of optical waveguides, for changing the amplitude and the phase of the carrier light propagating through each of the m number of optical waveguides in accordance with the data signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical signal control device includes an optical signal control unit and a drive circuit. The optical signal control unit includes m number of optical waveguides for propagating carrier light and (m×n) number of interaction regions, n number of interaction regions formed on each of the optical waveguides. The drive circuit includes (m×n) number of phase control units. The (m×n) number of phase control unit output a data signal for controlling the action of the (m×n) number of interaction regions to each of the (m×n) number of interaction regions. Each of the (m×n) number of phase control units outputs the data signal so that timing when the carrier light propagates to the interaction region to output the data signal and timing when the data signal arrives at the interaction region are synchronized. One of m and n is two or more.