Reflective Phase Modulator Structure for Stable Over-Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical modulation devices face limitations in operation response time and require optimized driving voltage profiles to compensate for nonlinearity and vibrations, while also struggling to maintain an over-coupling state for stable light modulation.
Innovation Solution
A phase modulator design that includes an antenna pattern, a lower reflective layer, a spacer with a phase shift pattern, and a power source to apply voltage and generate heat, allowing for improved light reflection and phase modulation while maintaining an over-coupling state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a meta structure using surface plasmon or gap surface plasmon is utilized for incident light, then light modulation capability is improved, but it is difficult to stably maintain an over-coupling state
Solution Approach 1:
A lower reflective layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the antenna pattern and the substrate. This reflective layer mediates the coupling between incident light and the antenna pattern, enabling stable over-coupling state maintenance by reflecting light that would otherwise be lost into the substrate, thereby improving both light modulation capability and operational stability
Solution Approach 2:
The phase shift pattern is integrated into the spacer structure, allowing dynamic control of the coupling parameters. By changing the phase of light incident on the antenna pattern through the phase shift pattern, the system can maintain optimal over-coupling conditions across different operating states, resolving the instability issue
2Illumination intensity
If a reflective layer is provided to resonate light coupled through the nanoantenna, then light reflection properties are improved, but the distance between the antenna pattern and phase change material pattern becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shift pattern is embedded within the spacer structure in the vertical dimension rather than being laterally separated from the antenna pattern. This vertical integration allows independent optimization of the antenna-reflector distance for maximum reflection while maintaining flexibility in phase change material placement, eliminating the lateral distance constraint
3Productivity
If the phase shift pattern is disposed in an effective resonator area, then phase modulation efficiency is improved, but light absorption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase shift pattern is selectively disposed in specific regions of the spacer where it can modulate the phase of light reaching the antenna pattern without significantly increasing overall light absorption. The local placement optimizes phase modulation efficiency while minimizing energy loss by avoiding placement in high-absorption zones
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 phase modulator achieves stable over-coupling and improved light reflection properties, enabling efficient phase modulation with a large phase modulation width and reduced light absorption, thus enhancing the performance of optical modulation devices.
Implementation Method 1
a power source that applies voltage to the antenna pattern, the antenna pattern generating heat based on the voltage applied to the antenna pattern
Implementation Method 2
a lower reflective layer spaced apart from the antenna pattern in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 3
a reflective layer is provided on the opposite side of the meta surface of the phase modulator to resonate the light coupled through the nanoantenna
Implementation Method 4
a phase shift pattern included in the spacer, the phase shift pattern including a phase shift material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Provided is a phase modulator including an antenna pattern, a lower reflective layer spaced apart from the antenna pattern in a vertical direction, a spacer provided between the antenna pattern and the lower reflective layer, and a phase shift pattern included in the spacer, the phase shift pattern including a phase shift material.