Silicon Optical Waveguide Element with Curved Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization and high integration of optical waveguide elements lead to a decrease in the coherence of light propagating through each optical waveguide, particularly when using silicon optical waveguides, which are sensitive to core shape variations and require precise processing accuracy, making it challenging to maintain polarization state coherence.
Innovation Solution
The optical waveguide element is configured by combining multiple element waveguides with the same structure, such as linear and curved waveguides, to ensure equal polarization state variation for both the first and second optical waveguides, maintaining coherence even in miniaturized and highly integrated designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If silicon optical waveguides are used for miniaturization and high integration, then the size of the optical waveguide element is reduced, but the coherence of light propagating through each optical waveguide decreases due to sensitivity to core shape variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring specific sections of the optical waveguides (curved waveguide sections) with identical structural characteristics. This ensures that local variations in core shape affect both waveguides equally, maintaining relative coherence. The curved sections are designed with the same curvature radius and cross-sectional dimensions, creating localized uniformity that compensates for overall miniaturization effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asymmetry in the arrangement of curved waveguide sections within each optical waveguide, while maintaining symmetry between corresponding sections of different waveguides. Each optical waveguide contains multiple curved sections with the same curvature radius, but these sections are positioned at different locations along the waveguide path. This asymmetric arrangement within symmetric constraints allows miniaturization while preserving coherence through matched differential variations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the core width of silicon waveguide is controlled with high precision (plus or minus several nanometers), then the propagation mode stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the curved waveguide sections, specifically setting the curvature radius to a specific value (e.g., 500 μm) and maintaining consistent cross-sectional dimensions. By standardizing these parameters across all curved sections and both optical waveguides, the patent achieves stable propagation modes without requiring extreme manufacturing precision. The standardized parameters work with CMOS process capabilities to achieve the needed several nanometer accuracy.
3Reliability
If multiple curved waveguide sections are combined in each optical waveguide, then the optical path length difference control is improved, but the structural complexity of the waveguide configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments each optical waveguide into multiple curved waveguide sections and straight waveguide sections. Each curved section has the same curvature radius, and the number of curved sections in each optical waveguide is equal. This segmentation allows precise control of optical path length differences by adjusting the number and arrangement of curved sections, while the modular nature of the segmentation keeps the overall structure manageable through repetition of standardized units.
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 maintains the coherence of light propagating through the optical waveguides, enabling good interference characteristics and normal operation of optical hybrid mixers, even when using silicon waveguides, by ensuring equal polarization states after propagation, thus supporting efficient signal decoding.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber communication technology has made substantial progress
Implementation Method 2
the coherence of the light propagating through each optical waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
An optical waveguide element according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes a first optical waveguide configured by combining a plurality of first element waveguides; and a second optical waveguide configured by combining a plurality of second element waveguides each of which having the same structure as the plurality of first element waveguides.