Reflective Structure for Silicon Photonics Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional silicon photonics structures face issues with large slot sizes reducing usable wafer area and complex, costly processes for forming mirror structures in side-light guiding, leading to increased signal loss and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A light guiding device with an optical transceiver and a reflective structure disposed on it, which includes a positioning platform allowing three-dimensional movement, minimizes slot size by extending the reflective surface into the slot, eliminating the need for additional coating and etching, and optimizing light guide efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a side-light guide method is used to reduce signal loss, then signal loss is reduced, but the slot size must be large and deep to accommodate the optical transceiver, which reduces the usable area of the silicon wafer
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective structure is positioned at the side of the waveguide rather than requiring a large deep slot, utilizing lateral space instead of vertical depth. This dimensional shift allows the optical transceiver to be coupled through a smaller slot while maintaining effective light reflection and coupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A reflective structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the optical transceiver and the waveguide. This reflective structure enables light coupling by reflecting light from the waveguide to the optical transceiver, eliminating the need for a large deep slot while maintaining coupling efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If an independent mirror structure is formed in the slot to reflect light, then light reflection is achieved, but the process steps become complicated and require additional coating and etching
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective structure is integrated with the optical transceiver assembly rather than being formed as a separate independent structure in the slot. This merging eliminates the need for additional coating and etching processes in the slot, simplifying the fabrication process while maintaining light reflection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical transceiver assembly includes its own reflective structure that serves the dual purpose of reflecting light and coupling it to the waveguide. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate mirror formation processes in the slot.
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 solution improves alignment and reduces process complexity, saving costs and enhancing light guide efficiency by minimizing slot size and eliminating the need for complex independent light guide element formation.
Implementation Method 1
the reflective surface is configured to reflect at least one light transmitted between the optical transceiver and a waveguide structure of the silicon photonics structure
Data Source
AI summary
A light guiding device for applying to silicon photonics structure is provided. The light guiding device includes an optical transceiver and a reflective structure. The reflective structure is disposed on the optical transceiver. The reflective structure has a reflective surface facing the optical transceiver, and the reflective surface is used for reflecting at least one light transmitted between the optical transceiver and a waveguide structure of the silicon photonics structure.