Single-Core Optical Transceiver Coaxial Sapphire Substrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical transceivers with light emitting and receiving portions on the same substrate face issues with light sensitivity due to the light receiving portion's inability to receive light in the central region of highest intensity and material restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A single-core optical transceiver design featuring a light emitting device with a nitride semiconductor layer on a sapphire substrate coaxially arranged with the light receiving device, using a resin for fixation and incorporating a switch to manage operations and suppress noise, enabling improved light sensitivity and efficient optical signal transmission/reception through a single optical fiber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the light receiving portion is arranged around the light emitting portion on the same substrate, then the device configuration is simplified to use a single optical fiber, but the light receiving portion cannot receive light in the central region where the light intensity is the highest, resulting in insufficient light sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The light receiving portion is positioned in the optical axis direction (vertical dimension) rather than only in the lateral plane, allowing it to receive light from the central region of the optical fiber where light intensity is highest. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by enabling both single-fiber configuration and high light sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A light propagating member (transparent substrate) is introduced as an intermediary between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. This mediator allows light to propagate from the emitting portion through the substrate to the receiving portion positioned on the opposite surface, enabling effective light reception while maintaining compact single-fiber configuration.
2Device complexity
If the light emitting portion and light receiving portion are formed on the same substrate, then the device structure is integrated and compact, but there are restrictions on materials that cannot be freely selected for each portion
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional portions: the light emitting portion, the light propagating member (substrate), and the light receiving portion. Each segment can be fabricated using different materials optimized for its specific function, with the substrate serving as a separate intermediate component that enables material diversity while maintaining structural integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The light propagating member serves as an intermediary substrate that couples the light emitting portion and light receiving portion. This intermediary allows different material systems to be used for emission and reception while the substrate provides mechanical support and optical transmission, resolving the material selection restriction.
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 coaxial arrangement and sapphire substrate enhance light sensitivity by allowing optical signal reception across the entire light receiving surface, while the switch configuration suppresses noise, enabling effective bidirectional communication with reduced transmission loss.
Implementation Method 1
the optical signal in a wavelength band with low transmission loss in the optical fiber can be guided through the sapphire substrate up to the light receiving surface of the light receiving device
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting device for transmitting the optical signal... wherein the light emitting device is an LED configured including a sapphire substrate
Implementation Method 3
a light receiving device for receiving the optical signal... the light receiving means is disposed coaxially with an optical fiber
Data Source
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AI summary
A single-core optical transceiver 1 is an optical transceiver for transmitting or receiving an optical signal through a single optical fiber 2. The single-core optical transceiver 1 has a light emitting device 13 for transmitting the optical signal and a light receiving device 12 for receiving the optical signal. The light emitting device 13 is an LED configured including a sapphire substrate 13b arranged on a light receiving surface 12a of the light receiving device 12 so as to be coaxial with the light receiving surface 12a, and a nitride semiconductor layer 13a laid on the sapphire substrate 13b. Even with the light emitting device 13 being arranged on the light receiving surface 12a of the light receiving device 12, the optical signal from the optical fiber 2 can be received on the entire area of the light receiving surface 12a, so as to adequately improve the light sensitivity.