Tunable Laser Heater Control for Precise Wavelength Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wavelength tunable laser apparatuses using silicon photonics struggle to appropriately control the wavelength of light output, leading to inefficiencies in WDM communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength tunable laser apparatus comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier, a heater for controlling the wavelength through heating, and a control unit that determines and transitions the power supplied to the heater based on the target wavelength, ensuring precise wavelength control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a filter or waveguide is formed using silicon photonics to control wavelength, then the device can be integrated on a silicon substrate, but the wavelength of the light output to the outside cannot be appropriately controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heater as an intermediary component that mediates between the silicon photonics waveguide and the light output. The heater applies thermal energy to the silicon waveguide, utilizing the thermo-optical effect to change the refractive index and thereby control the resonance wavelength of the ring resonator filter, enabling appropriate wavelength control while maintaining silicon photonics integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the silicon waveguide through heater control, which alters the refractive index of the silicon material. This parameter change enables dynamic adjustment of the resonance wavelength of the ring resonator, solving the wavelength control issue while maintaining the benefits of silicon photonics integration
2Adaptability or versatility
If power is supplied to the heater to control wavelength, then the wavelength can be adjusted, but hysteresis effects occur making precise control difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the control unit continuously monitors the output wavelength and adjusts the heater power accordingly. The control unit determines the target heater power based on the desired wavelength and controls the transition of heater power to minimize hysteresis effects, ensuring precise and reliable wavelength control
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit determines the target value of heater power and the transition path to reach that target before actually applying the power. This preliminary calculation of the power transition path allows the system to anticipate and compensate for hysteresis effects, achieving more precise wavelength control
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 solution allows for accurate and efficient control of the light wavelength output, enhancing the performance and reliability of WDM communication systems by minimizing hysteresis effects and optimizing power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a semiconductor optical amplifier that outputs light due to supplied power
Implementation Method 2
when the heater is energized and heated, the refractive index is changed due to the thermo-optical effect of Si, and the resonance wavelength of the ring resonator is changed accordingly
Data Source
AI summary
A wavelength tunable laser apparatus (10) comprises: a semiconductor optical amplifier (121) that outputs light due to supplied power; a heater (124) that controls a wavelength of the light output from the semiconductor optical amplifier by performing heating due to the supplied power; and a control unit (11) in configured to control power, the power being supplied to the heater, in which the control unit determines, based on the wavelength of the light output from the wavelength tunable laser apparatus, a target value of the power to be supplied to the heater and transition of the power to be supplied to the heater until the target value is reached.