Perovskite Oxide Waveguide Modulator for Low Voltage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical modulators using lithium niobate (LN) crystals face challenges in further reducing device size and driving voltage while maintaining modulation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The optical device employs a thin-film perovskite oxide waveguide, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) or barium titanate (BTO), with a large electro-optic effect, integrated with a silicon substrate and cladding layers, to achieve improved modulation efficiency and reduced size and voltage requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thin-film lithium niobate (LN) waveguide is used, then light confinement intensity is improved and electric field application efficiency is enhanced, but device size and driving voltage cannot be further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from lithium niobate to perovskite oxide, which has a larger electro-optic coefficient. This parameter change enables achieving the same modulation effect with smaller device dimensions and lower driving voltage, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining efficiency and reducing size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite structure combining perovskite oxide thin film with silicon substrate and cladding layers. This composite material approach enables both strong light confinement (improving efficiency) and reduced device footprint (reducing size) simultaneously.
2Reliability
If a thin-film lithium niobate (LN) waveguide is used, then electric field application efficiency is improved, but driving voltage cannot be further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the material from lithium niobate to perovskite oxide with larger electro-optic coefficient, the patent achieves the same modulation depth at lower driving voltage, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining efficiency and reducing voltage.
3Reliability
If lithium niobate crystal is used, then modulation efficiency is maintained, but device size cannot be further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electro-optic coefficient parameter by switching to perovskite oxide material, which has a coefficient three times larger than lithium niobate. This enables achieving the same modulation efficiency with significantly reduced device size.
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 enhances modulation efficiency, allows for a reduction in device size and driving voltage, and achieves an electro-optic coefficient three times larger than that of LN, thereby improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide formed of a thin film that is laminated on a silicon substrate and that is made of a perovskite oxide with a large electro-optic effect as compared to lithium niobate
Implementation Method 2
A signal electrode is arranged on the optical waveguide of the optical modulator chip, and if voltage is applied to the signal electrode, an electric field in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the optical modulator chip is generated inside the optical waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device includes a silicon substrate, a waveguide formed of a thin film that is laminated on the silicon substrate and that is made of a perovskite oxide with a large electro-optic effect as compared to lithium niobate, and a cladding layer that covers the waveguide. Further, the optical device includes ground electrode that has a ground potential and a signal electrode that is arranged at a position facing the ground electrode and that applies driving voltage to the waveguide.