Parallel Photonic Chip Layout for Dense Reconfigurable Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photonic devices face limitations in integration density and scalability due to non-parallel longitudinal axes of tunable basic units, which result in large footprints and sensitivity to component orientation, affecting fabrication ease, performance, and circuit efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design of a photonic chip with equally-oriented programmable photonic analogue blocks and reconfigurable interconnections allows for parallel field-programmable photonic arrays, enabling simultaneous photonic circuits and linear multiport transformations while maintaining uniform spatial/angular orientation, reducing footprint and improving reproducibility and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If non-parallel longitudinal axes of tunable basic units are used to achieve versatile circuit topologies, then functionality and adaptability are improved, but footprint area increases and integration density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally designing the waveguide mesh with non-uniform spacing between adjacent waveguides. Specifically, the spacing varies in different regions of the mesh, allowing the structure to achieve versatile circuit topologies and routing flexibility without requiring non-parallel longitudinal axes. This asymmetric spacing enables different light propagation paths and coupling configurations while maintaining parallel waveguide orientations, thereby reducing footprint area while preserving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional arrangement with non-parallel axes to a two-dimensional arrangement with parallel axes by utilizing variable spacing in both horizontal and vertical directions. This dimensional approach allows the waveguide mesh to achieve complex routing and topology versatility through spacing variation rather than angular variation, effectively reducing the footprint area while maintaining integration density.
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-parallel longitudinal axes of tunable basic units are used to achieve diverse topologies, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex manufacturing requirements of non-parallel waveguide axes with an asymmetric spacing configuration where all waveguides remain parallel. This approach maintains topology diversity through variable inter-waveguide distances while significantly simplifying the fabrication process, as parallel waveguides can be manufactured using standard photolithography techniques without requiring complex alignment and angular positioning procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-parallel longitudinal axes of tunable basic units are used to achieve complex circuits, then functionality is improved, but integration density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves complex circuit functionality through asymmetric spacing between parallel waveguides rather than through non-parallel orientations. By varying the spacing distances in different regions of the waveguide mesh, the invention enables diverse light coupling configurations, routing paths, and circuit topologies while maintaining a compact, high-density integration layout with all waveguides oriented parallel to each other.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a photonic chip carried out by the combination and interconnection of equally-oriented Programmable Photonics Processing Blocks, with all their longitudinal axes in parallel, implemented over a photonic chip that is capable of implementing one or multiple, simultaneous photonics circuits with optical feedback paths and/or linear multiport transformations, by the appropriate programming of its resources and the selection of its input and output ports. The invention also relates to a parallel field-programmable photonic array (P-FPPA) comprising of, at least one programmable circuit based on equally-oriented /parallel tunable beam-splitters with independent coupling and phase-shifting configuration and peripheral high-performance building blocks.