Optical Waveguide Element With Offset Unit for Crosstalk Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
In optical waveguide components, stray light from the optical path conversion unit causes crosstalk between channels, making it difficult to achieve efficient optical coupling and suppress crosstalk in hybrid integration, especially due to complex manufacturing processes and space requirements for light shielding units.
Innovation Solution
An optical waveguide component with an optical path conversion unit featuring an inclined groove and an offset unit, where the offset unit communicates with the inclined groove's opposite surface, allowing for a longer distance between the offset region and the mirror surface, facilitating accurate and simple formation of a reflective film that only reflects the optical signal without stray light, thus reducing crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light shielding plate is provided on the surface of the optical waveguide to prevent stray light, then crosstalk between channels is suppressed, but the device complexity and manufacturing process become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the inclined surface (reflecting stray light) is extracted and relocated to the offset unit. The offset unit is positioned such that stray light reflected from the mirror surface does not return to the optical waveguide, effectively removing the crosstalk problem without adding complex shielding structures to the main optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset unit acts as an intermediary structure that intercepts and redirects stray light away from the optical waveguide. By introducing this intermediate element, stray light is diverted before it can cause crosstalk, avoiding the need for direct shielding plates on the waveguide surface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a light shielding plate is provided on the surface of the optical waveguide to prevent stray light, then crosstalk between channels is suppressed, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The offset unit is integrated into the optical waveguide structure as a unified component. The inclined groove and offset unit are formed together in the same substrate, eliminating the need for separate shielding plate assemblies and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining effective stray light suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical waveguide structure itself provides the stray light suppression function through its built-in offset unit. The structure serves its primary optical guidance function while simultaneously preventing crosstalk, eliminating the need for additional dedicated shielding components and reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If the optical path conversion unit is designed to reflect optical signals, then optical coupling efficiency is improved, but stray light is also reflected causing crosstalk
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective property is localized only to the mirror surface in the offset unit, while the main optical waveguide surface maintains its original non-reflective characteristics. This localized reflection approach enables effective optical coupling at the offset unit without generating stray light that would cause crosstalk in the main optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical path conversion is achieved by redirecting light into a different spatial dimension through the offset unit. Light that would otherwise propagate along the original optical path is diverted into an offset dimension, separating the useful reflected light from potential stray light paths and preventing crosstalk.
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 enables highly efficient optical coupling of optical elements with suppressed crosstalk between channels, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the complexity of light shielding, resulting in a more accurate and efficient optical waveguide component.
Implementation Method 1
forming an optical path conversion unit that includes an input-output unit using a local portion of an inclined surface on the side of the core in an inclined groove formed to be deeper than the core in a direction intersecting an emission direction of an optical signal in the core and perpendicular to a horizontal direction of the substrate as a mirror surface
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an optical waveguide component capable of implementing highly efficient optical coupling of an optical element and suppressing a crosstalk between channels in performing hybrid integration. A PLC as an optical waveguide component employing an offset structure includes an input-output unit using a local portion of an inclined surface on the side of a core in an inclined groove of an optical path conversion unit to be loaded with an optical element as a mirror surface. The inclined groove is formed to be deeper than the core in a direction intersecting an emission direction of an optical signal in the core and perpendicular to a horizontal direction of a substrate. An offset unit in the horizontal direction of the substrate is provided to communicate with the inclined groove on the side of an opposite inclined surface opposing the mirror surface as the local portion of the inclined surface. When the mirror surface is coated with a reflective film via an offset unit, the reflective film can be accurately and simply formed.