Planar Light Wave Circuit Optical Transceiver Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical transceiver assemblies face challenges with high insertion loss and temperature dependence due to the use of Indium Phosphate semiconductor devices, which require high temperatures and complex refractive optical elements for demultiplexing and signal conversion.
Innovation Solution
The optical receiver/transceiver subassembly supports a photodiode on a planar light wave circuit without refractive optical elements, ensuring precise alignment and efficient light coupling directly to the photodiode's photosensitive area, eliminating the need for refractive and reflective optics and reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If Indium Phosphate semiconductor devices are used for demultiplexing and photodetection, then both demultiplexing and photodetection functions are integrated, but insertion loss increases and high temperature operation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical receiver into separate functional components: a planar lightwave circuit for demultiplexing and separate photodiodes for photodetection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing insertion loss while maintaining integration benefits through modular assembly on a common substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary coupling mechanism between the planar lightwave circuit and photodiodes that eliminates the need for refractive optical elements. This intermediary coupling structure enables direct optical signal transfer while reducing insertion loss and avoiding the temperature dependence issues of Indium Phosphate devices.
2Device complexity
If Indium Phosphate semiconductor devices are used for demultiplexing, then demultiplexing function is achieved, but high temperature operation is required due to material properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the Indium Phosphate semiconductor-based demultiplexing mechanism with a planar lightwave circuit that uses waveguide-based demultiplexing. This substitution eliminates the need for high temperature operation while maintaining the demultiplexing function, as the planar lightwave circuit operates at standard temperatures.
3Reliability
If refractive optical elements are used for coupling light to photodiodes, then light coupling is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates refractive optical elements from the light coupling path between the planar lightwave circuit and photodiodes. By removing these unnecessary components, the design achieves direct coupling while reducing device complexity, cost, and potential failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a three-dimensional spatial arrangement where the photodiode is positioned in close proximity to the planar lightwave circuit output. This dimensional optimization enables direct optical coupling without requiring refractive elements, achieving efficient light transfer through precise spatial positioning rather than optical components.
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 approach results in high-efficiency signal conversion with reduced insertion loss, low cross-talk, and polarization-dependent loss, achieving a compact and sensitive optical transceiver assembly with minimal optical elements.
Implementation Method 1
a spot size of light output from the planar light wave circuit is incident on the photosensitive portion such that an optical signal transmitted by the light output is converted to an electric signal by the photodiode
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided in which a photodiode supported on a planar light wave circuit assembly and arranged such that a photosensitive portion of the photodiode is aligned along an optical path from the output of the planar light wave circuit to the photodiode of the planar light wave circuit assembly. The photodiode is arranged such that a spot size of light output from the planar light wave circuit is incident on the photosensitive portion such that an optical signal transmitted by the light output is converted to an electric signal by the photodiode. A mounting structure is arranged between the planar light wave circuit assembly and the photodiode in order to support the photodiode on the planar light wave circuit assembly. The optical path of the light output from the planar light wave circuit does not contain any refractive optical elements.