Ring Resonator Heating Layout for Thermal Interference Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ring resonators face challenges in preventing thermal interference between waveguides while maintaining sufficient waveguide heating lengths, which affects mechanical strength, power consumption, and spectral range.
Innovation Solution
The design includes non-parallel and oppositely arranged waveguide parts with a heater along longer sections, combined with thermal insulation, to prevent thermal interference and maintain heating lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the heater length is reduced to suppress thermal interference, then thermal interference between waveguides is reduced, but the heating length of the waveguides is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ring waveguides are divided into multiple sections with different heater arrangements. The first ring waveguide has a heater only in the third waveguide part, while the second ring waveguide has a heater only in the sixth waveguide part. This segmentation allows each heater to operate independently without thermal interference, while still providing sufficient heating length for effective wavelength tuning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric waveguide length design where the third waveguide part is longer than the second waveguide part in the first ring waveguide, and the sixth waveguide part is longer than the fifth waveguide part in the second ring waveguide. This asymmetry allows the heaters to be positioned on the longer sections, maximizing heating length while maintaining sufficient spacing between heaters to prevent thermal interference.
2Length of stationary object
If the heater length is increased to secure heating length, then the heating length is sufficient, but thermal interference between waveguides increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is extracted from certain waveguide sections and applied only to specific parts. By removing heaters from the second and fifth waveguide parts and applying them only to the third and sixth waveguide parts respectively, the patent achieves sufficient heating length while eliminating thermal interference in the coupling regions where the waveguides are closest.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heaters are disposed near coupling regions for wavelength tuning, then wavelength variable filtering is achieved, but thermal interference occurs between the two ring waveguides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing heaters only in specific waveguide parts rather than uniformly across all sections. The first heater is localized to the third waveguide part of the first ring waveguide, and the second heater is localized to the sixth waveguide part of the second ring waveguide. This localized heating provides sufficient wavelength tuning capability while avoiding thermal interference in other regions.
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 ensures reduced power consumption, maintains mechanical strength, and achieves narrow-bandwidth filtering characteristics by preventing thermal interference.
Implementation Method 1
a heater... the heater is disposed along each of a third waveguide part and a sixth waveguide part
Implementation Method 2
two curved waveguide parts each connecting the first and second waveguide parts to each other... the first and fifth waveguide parts are arranged on sides opposite to each other with respect to a center line passing through the first and second ring waveguides
Data Source
AI summary
A ring resonator includes an input waveguide, a first ring waveguide, a second ring waveguide, an output waveguide, and a heater. The first ring waveguide includes a first waveguide part optically connected to the input waveguide, and a third waveguide part which is a longer one of two waveguide parts connecting the first waveguide part to a second waveguide part optically connected to the second ring waveguide. The second ring waveguide includes a fourth waveguide part optically connected to the second waveguide part, and a sixth waveguide part which is a longer one of two waveguide parts connecting the fourth waveguide part to a fifth waveguide part optically connected to the output waveguide. The heater extends along the third and six waveguide parts.