Optical Receiver Sub-Assembly Slope Surface Ray Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multi-channel optical receiver sub-assemblies face increased manufacturing costs and ray loss due to ray alignment errors, particularly with 45-degree reflection structures used in optical waveguide devices.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an optical receiver sub-assembly with a substrate-mounted optical waveguide device and photodetector, utilizing an upper and lower slope surface on the vertical cross-sectional surface to reflect and refract rays for vertical incidence on the photodetector, eliminating the need for a reflector and optimizing ray alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a reflector with a 45-degree slope surface is attached on the optical waveguide device, then the ray collection efficiency of the photodetector is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and ray loss occurs due to alignment errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveray collection efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the reflector function into the optical waveguide device itself by forming a reflective layer directly on the waveguide core. This integration eliminates the need for a separate attached reflector, thereby reducing manufacturing steps and alignment requirements while maintaining effective ray collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the separate reflector component from the system and replaces it with an integrated reflective structure within the optical waveguide device. This removal of the external reflector eliminates the alignment error problem between the waveguide core and reflector while still achieving the necessary ray reflection function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 reduces ray loss and manufacturing costs while enhancing ray coupling efficiency by ensuring precise alignment and efficient ray transfer through the use of slope surfaces, improving the overall performance of the optical receiver sub-assembly.

Implementation Method 1

the upper slope surface reflects the ray

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the lower slope surface refracts ray reflected by the upper slope surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS12189194B2Receiver optical sub-assembly, multi-channel receiver optical sub-assembly, and operating method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.01.07 ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST

AI summary

An optical receiver sub-assembly is provided, which includes a substrate, an optical waveguide device mounted on the substrate to transfer ray incident from a ray source, and a photodetector mounted on the substrate and disposed under a vertical cross-sectional surface of the optical waveguide device, wherein the ray is sequentially reflected and refracted by an upper slope surface and a lower slope surface provided in the vertical cross-sectional surface and is vertically incident on an active area of the photodetector.