Phased Grating Optical Antenna Array for Low-Divergence Emission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic transmitters with phased array antennas have limited optical antenna emission surface areas, leading to high far-field divergence of emitted light radiation.
Innovation Solution
A phase-controlled array antenna optoelectronic transmitter with optical antennas featuring a horizontally emitting guiding structure, a lateral diffraction grating, and a vertically emitting guiding structure, along with a coupling structure, to enhance the free-space emission surface and reduce divergence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the optical antenna emission surface area is increased, then the far-field divergence is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical antenna is divided into two separate guiding structures: a horizontally emitting guiding structure and a vertically emitting guiding structure. Each structure has its own diffraction grating, allowing the emission surface area to be increased in both horizontal and vertical dimensions independently, thereby reducing far-field divergence while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane emission structure to a three-dimensional emission structure by adding both horizontal and vertical emitting guiding structures. This dimensional expansion increases the effective emission surface area without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the additional structure operates in a different spatial dimension
2Area of stationary object
If a horizontally emitting guiding structure and vertical emitting guiding structure are added, then the emission surface area is increased, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontally emitting guiding structure and vertically emitting guiding structure are merged into a single integrated optical antenna unit, sharing common components such as the injection waveguide and substrate. This merging approach increases the emission surface area while avoiding proportional increases in manufacturing complexity, as the structures are fabricated together in the same photonic integration process
Solution Approach 2:
The injection waveguide serves multiple functions: it feeds both the horizontally emitting guiding structure and the vertically emitting guiding structure. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby increasing emission surface area without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity
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 design achieves reduced far-field divergence of emitted light radiation by increasing the emission surface area of optical antennas, allowing for more focused and directed light emission.
Implementation Method 1
a vertical diffraction grating, coupled to the emission waveguide and adapted to extract in free space an optical mode circulating in the emission waveguide
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates to an optoelectronic emitter (1) comprising a plurality of optical antennas (7), each comprising: a laterally emitting guiding structure (10) formed from an injection waveguide (11) and from a lateral diffraction grating (12) configured to extract an optical mode in a horizontal plane; and a vertically emitting guiding structure (30) formed from an emission waveguide (31) configured to receive an optical mode extracted by the diffraction grating (12), and from a vertical diffraction grating (32) configured to extract to free space an optical mode travelling through the emission waveguide (31).