Tunable Laser Layout With Thermal Isolation for Stable LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tunable laser light sources used in LiDAR systems face performance degradation due to thermal issues, as existing designs lack effective thermal management, leading to heat transfer between optical amplifiers and resonators, which affects stability and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A tunable laser light source design featuring a thermal isolation structure with a waveguide layer disconnected in specific areas to expose the substrate, reducing thermal conductivity and preventing heat transfer between optical amplifiers and resonators, combined with a thermal management device for efficient heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If optical amplifiers are closely integrated on the waveguide layer, then device compactness is improved, but thermal isolation deteriorates causing heat transfer between components
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide layer is segmented into multiple isolated regions by introducing thermal isolation structures ( trenches or air gaps) between adjacent optical amplifiers. This segmentation physically divides the continuous waveguide layer into discrete segments, preventing thermal coupling while maintaining close spatial integration of the amplifiers on the same substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal isolation structures are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent optical amplifiers. These structures act as thermal barriers (mediators) that block heat transfer pathways while allowing the amplifiers to remain in close proximity for compact integration. The intermediaries create thermal isolation without requiring large physical separations.
2Reliability
If thermal isolation structures are introduced to prevent heat transfer, then thermal management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide layer is selectively removed or modified only in specific regions where thermal isolation is needed, while maintaining its continuous structure in other areas. This local quality approach applies thermal isolation precisely where required (between heat-generating components) without unnecessarily complicating the entire device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal conductivity parameter of the medium between amplifiers is changed by replacing the waveguide layer material (high thermal conductivity) with thermal isolation structures (low thermal conductivity). This parameter change achieves thermal isolation by fundamentally altering the thermal transport properties in the inter-component regions.
3Ease of manufacture
If the waveguide layer remains continuous, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but thermal coupling between amplifiers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide layer is selectively extracted (removed) from specific regions between optical amplifiers to create thermal isolation structures. This extraction eliminates the harmful thermal coupling pathway while preserving the waveguide layer in regions where optical guidance is needed, achieving thermal isolation without completely sacrificing manufacturing simplicity.
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 solution effectively minimizes thermal degradation, enhancing the stability and reliability of the tunable laser light source by reducing heat transfer and optimizing thermal management, thereby improving the performance and longevity of LiDAR systems.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal isolation structure that is disposed between the first optical amplifier and the second optical amplifier in the first direction, wherein, in the thermal isolation structure, the waveguide layer is disconnected in the first direction so that an upper surface of the substrate is exposed outside of the waveguide layer
Data Source
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AI summary
A tunable laser light source includes a substrate; a waveguide layer disposed on the substrate, and including: a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction and that extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a first optical amplifier provided on the first optical waveguide; a second optical amplifier provided on the second optical waveguide and facing the first optical amplifier at a distance in the first direction; and a thermal isolation structure that is provided between the first optical amplifier and the second optical amplifier in the first direction, wherein, in the thermal isolation structure, the waveguide layer is disconnected in the first direction such that an upper surface of the substrate is exposed outside of the waveguide layer.