Optically Pumped SOA Arrays for Low-Loss Single-Die Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) face challenges with high optical losses, heating issues, and low yield due to electrical pumping, making it impractical to integrate large arrays on a single die.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an array of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) that are optically pumped instead of electrically pumped, allowing for significantly smaller dimensions and higher yield, and enabling the SOA array to be integrated on a single III-V die.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrical pumping is used to power semiconductor optical amplifiers, then the SOAs can be operated with current injection, but this results in high optical losses, heating issues, and low yield that make it impractical to integrate large arrays on a single die
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical pumping (current injection) with optical pumping (light injection) to power the semiconductor optical amplifiers. This substitution eliminates the harmful effects of electrical pumping including high optical losses, heating issues, and low yield, thereby enabling the integration of large arrays of SOAs on a single die with significantly improved productivity and reduced energy loss
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate lasers are implemented for multiplexed transmission, then multiple data streams can be transmitted simultaneously, but this increases device complexity and requires multiple separate components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate laser components into a single integrated array of semiconductor optical amplifiers that can be optically pumped by a single external laser source. This combining approach maintains the multiplexed transmission capability for multiple data streams while significantly reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate lasers and their associated control electronics
3Productivity
If optically pumped SOAs are implemented on a single die, then the array dimensions can be much smaller and yield can be significantly higher, but this requires eliminating p-n junctions and electrical contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the electrical pumping components (p-n junctions, electrical contacts, and associated electrical infrastructure) from the semiconductor optical amplifier structure. By eliminating these electrical components and replacing them with optical pumping mechanisms, the patent achieves much smaller array dimensions and significantly higher yield while integrating large arrays on a single die, despite the structural modifications required
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
Optically pumped SOAs reduce optical losses, eliminate heating issues associated with electrical pumping, and increase yield, enabling the integration of a large array of SOAs on a single die, which is approximately 10 times smaller than with electrically pumped SOAs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical splitter configured to split the pumping light into a plurality of waveguides
Implementation Method 2
The external energy source provides energy which is absorbed into the gain medium of the laser, producing excited states in the laser's gain medium that results in stimulated emission of light
Implementation Method 3
Each SOA is configured to be optically pumped by receiving a portion of the pumping light from a respective one of the plurality of waveguides
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device includes an input port configured to receive pumping light; an optical splitter configured to split the pumping light into a plurality of waveguides; and a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) implemented on a single III-V die. Each SOA is configured to be optically pumped by receiving a portion of the pumping light from a respective one of the plurality of waveguides.