Optical Switch Resonator Geometry for Low-Power Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional all-optical switches have insufficient optical trans-conductance, requiring a better variation of transparency for a given variation in intensity of the control signal.
Innovation Solution
An optical switch with an improved geometry featuring an optical resonator with reflecting interfaces that completely enclose or substantially enclose the resonator, utilizing regions with different refractive indices, such as annuli, elliptical, or polygonal frames, to enhance the quality factor Q and switching behavior, allowing for more efficient energy confinement and lower intensity control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional all-optical switch design is used, then the switch can operate with optical signals, but the optical trans-conductance is insufficient and transparency variation is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the optical resonator by introducing an enclosing structure with reflecting interfaces at a distance from the resonator. This geometric parameter change enhances the quality factor Q, which in turn improves the optical trans-conductance and transparency variation of the switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure - the enclosing structure with reflecting interfaces - that mediates between the optical resonator and the external environment. This intermediary enhances the confinement of optical energy within the resonator, improving the switching behavior without directly modifying the resonator itself.
2Use of energy by moving object
If higher quality factor Q is achieved through improved geometry, then switching behavior becomes more pronounced and control intensity can be reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical switch into distinct functional components: the optical resonator and the enclosing structure with reflecting interfaces. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component - the resonator for light-matter interaction and the enclosing structure for energy confinement - thereby achieving higher Q factor with manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the design by positioning the enclosing structure at a specific distance from the resonator. This dimensional arrangement creates reflecting interfaces that enhance energy confinement without requiring complex modifications to the resonator's internal structure, thus reducing control intensity requirements while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
3Loss of energy
If reflecting interfaces completely enclose the optical resonator, then energy confinement is enhanced and quality factor Q increases, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial enclosure rather than complete enclosure, with reflecting interfaces positioned at a distance from the resonator. This partial action provides sufficient energy confinement to enhance the quality factor Q without requiring the extremely high manufacturing precision that would be needed for complete enclosure with tight tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structural design combining the optical resonator material with the enclosing structure material. This composite approach allows optimization of each material's properties for its specific function, and the spatial separation between components reduces the cumulative impact of manufacturing tolerances on overall performance.
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 enhanced quality factor Q results in a more pronounced switching behavior, enabling control with lower intensity or power, broader material compatibility, and a faster, more power-efficient optical switch.
Implementation Method 1
The reflecting interfaces are interfaces between regions with different refractive indexes
Implementation Method 2
interfaces between regions with different refractive indexes
Implementation Method 3
At least one material comprising the optical resonator is non-linear, the non-linearity causing different resonance frequencies of the optical resonator for different intensities of light
Implementation Method 4
The resonance frequency depends on the refractive indices of the materials forming the cavity... the resonance frequency and hence the transparency of the cavity for light in the other waveguide is modulated
Data Source
AI summary
An optical switch, comprising an optical resonator, a first input optical waveguide optically coupled to the optical resonator for guiding a first optical signal to the optical resonator; a second input optical waveguide optically coupled to the optical resonator for guiding a second optical signal to the optical resonator; and an output optical waveguide optically coupled to the optical resonator for guiding a third optical signal from the optical resonator, wherein the optical resonator has a first region and at least one separate second region made of different materials, at least one of which is non-linear to cause different resonance frequencies of the optical resonator for different intensities of light.