Thermal-Optical Phase Shifter Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LIDAR technologies face challenges in accurately measuring range and velocity due to limitations in signal accuracy, which is crucial for autonomous vehicle navigation.
Innovation Solution
A thermal-optical phase shifter is designed with a beam, waveguide, heating element, and thermally conductive structure to modulate the phase of light, enhancing thermal management and signal accuracy by dissipating heat effectively, thereby improving the performance of LIDAR devices in autonomous vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a heating element is disposed in the beam to modulate the phase of light, then the phase control accuracy is improved, but heat accumulation in the beam occurs which degrades the reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful heat is extracted from the beam by introducing a thermally conductive strip that selectively removes heat from the beam region containing the heating element and waveguide, while the beam itself remains suspended to maintain optical isolation. This separates the phase modulation function from heat accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermally conductive strip is introduced as an intermediary element between the beam and the heat sink. The strip acts as a thermal conduit that transfers heat from the beam to the heat sink without directly contacting the beam, enabling heat removal while maintaining structural integrity and optical performance.
2Temperature
If the beam is suspended over a cavity to reduce thermal interference, then the thermal isolation is improved, but the heat dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the device are assigned different thermal properties: the beam is thermally isolated by suspending it over a cavity to protect from substrate heat, while the thermally conductive strip provides a localized heat dissipation path. This creates a dual thermal management strategy where thermal isolation and heat dissipation coexist in different locations.
3Loss of energy
If a thermally conductive strip is added to dissipate heat from the beam, then the heat dissipation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermally conductive strip serves multiple functions: it acts as a heat dissipation pathway, provides structural support for the beam, and can be integrated with existing fabrication processes. By making the strip multi-functional, the added complexity is justified by the multiple benefits it provides.
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 thermal-optical phase shifter enhances the thermal management of waveguides, improving the accuracy of LIDAR signals and enabling more precise range and velocity measurements, supporting advanced autonomous vehicle navigation.
Implementation Method 1
The heating element is a resistive heating element and is formed from titanium nitride
Implementation Method 2
The thermally conductive structure is arranged to disperse heat from the beam
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal-optical phase shifter includes a substrate layer, a cladding layer, and a beam in the cladding layer. The thermal-optical phase shifter includes a waveguide and a heating element disposed in the beam. The thermal-optical phase shifter includes a thermally conductive structure disposed on the cladding layer to disperse heat from the beam. The thermally conductive structure may include a metal strip disposed longitudinally along the beam, may include thermally conductive pads, and/or may include thermally conductive vias coupled between the cladding layer and the substrate layer. The thermal-optical phase shifter may be incorporated into light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, telecommunications devices, and/or computing devices.