Ring Optical Resonator for Millimeter-Wave Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating and detecting millimeter-wave or sub-millimeter-wave electromagnetic radiation are inefficient, as they lack effective means to enhance signal power and accurately convert optical signals into detectable sideband signals for weak electromagnetic signals.
Innovation Solution
A ring optical resonator with evanescent optical coupling to an input waveguide, incorporating nonlinear optical materials, is used to generate sideband optical signals through sum- or difference-frequency generation, enabling efficient upconversion and detection of millimeter-wave or sub-millimeter-wave electromagnetic signals by leveraging resonant optical modes and frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional methods are used for generating and detecting millimeter-wave or sub-millimeter-wave electromagnetic radiation, then the detection process is simpler, but the signal power is insufficient and conversion efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter by using optical frequency conversion to upconvert millimeter-wave or sub-millimeter-wave electromagnetic signals to optical frequencies. This allows the use of optical detectors that operate at higher frequencies, thereby achieving sufficient signal power and conversion efficiency while maintaining a manageable system complexity through integrated photonic structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical field as an intermediary to mediate between the millimeter-wave or sub-millimeter-wave electromagnetic signal and the detector. By using optical frequencies as an intermediate step, the system achieves efficient signal conversion and detection that would not be possible with direct detection methods
2Productivity
If optical frequency conversion is used to upconvert electromagnetic signals, then conversion efficiency improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a ring-shaped optical resonator with curved geometry to achieve efficient optical frequency conversion. The curved structure enables resonant enhancement of the nonlinear optical processes while maintaining a compact footprint, thereby improving conversion efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple functional components including waveguides, ring resonators, and nonlinear optical materials in a nested or closely integrated photonic structure. This integration allows the system to achieve high conversion efficiency through multiple functions in a single compact device, reducing the overall complexity compared to separate discrete 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 significantly enhances the detection of weak electromagnetic signals by multiplying input optical signal power and allowing for efficient upconversion with lower input signal power, enabling high-speed data decoding and improved signal processing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
generate, from the input optical signal and the electromagnetic signal, one or more sideband optical signals that propagate around the ring optical resonator at corresponding optical sideband frequencies νSF=νIN+νEM
Implementation Method 2
generate, from the input optical signal and the electromagnetic signal, one or more sideband optical signals that propagate around the ring optical resonator at corresponding optical sideband frequencies νDF=νIN−νEM
Implementation Method 3
The input optical waveguide and the ring optical resonator are arranged and positioned so as to establish evanescent optical coupling between them
Implementation Method 4
The ring optical resonator is arranged so as to support one or more resonant optical modes
Data Source
AI summary
A ring optical resonator and one or more input optical waveguides are arranged on a substrate, and are arranged and positioned to establish evanescent optical coupling between them. The ring optical resonator, the substrate, or both include one or more nonlinear optical materials. To detect an electromagnetic signal at frequency νEM incident on the resonator, an input optical signal at frequency νIN propagates along the waveguide and around the resonator. The incident electromagnetic signal and the input optical signal generate one or more sideband optical signals at corresponding optical sideband frequencies νSF=νIN+νEM or νDF=νIN−νEM. To generate an electromagnetic signal to propagate away from the resonator, input optical signals at frequencies νIN1 and νIN2 propagate along one or more waveguides and around the resonator and generate the electromagnetic signal incident at frequency νEM=|νIN1−νIN2|.