Two-Segment DBR Laser Structure for Thermal Tuning Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional DFB lasers in local area network wavelength division multiplexing systems face challenges with low thermal tuning efficiency and heat crosstalk, affecting yield and power consumption, while tunable lasers with thermal tuning suffer from inefficient heat distribution and scattering.

Innovation Solution

A two-segment DBR laser design with a grating region and broadband reflector, featuring a cavity formed by a first support structure and ridge waveguide, concentrates heat using a heater to enhance thermal tuning efficiency and reduce heat crosstalk, and a monolithically integrated array light source chip with multiple DBR lasers and optical multiplexers to improve yield and reduce component costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If thermal tuning is used to adjust wavelength, then wavelength alignment yield is improved, but heat scattering occurs and thermal tuning efficiency becomes low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength alignment yieldVSAvoidthermal tuning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into functionally independent segments: the grating region with heater for wavelength tuning, the gain region for light amplification, and the broadband reflector for feedback. This segmentation allows the heater to be localized in the grating region, preventing heat from affecting the gain region and thus improving thermal tuning efficiency while maintaining wavelength alignment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heater is extracted from the conventional integrated structure and specifically positioned in the grating region only. This extraction allows independent thermal control of the grating region without heating other parts of the laser, resolving the heat scattering problem while maintaining wavelength tuning functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If heater is disposed on waveguide surface for thermal tuning, then phase and wavelength adjustment is achieved, but heat scatters to other parts causing thermal crosstalk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength adjustment capabilityVSAvoidthermal crosstalk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is placed only in the grating region with different thermal properties compared to the gain region. The grating region structure is designed to confine heat locally, allowing wavelength adjustment functionality while preventing thermal crosstalk to the gain region through structural thermal isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If DFB laser is used as basic light source, then conventional design is simple, but single-mode yield and wavelength alignment yield cannot be both optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaser structure simplicityVSAvoidsingle-mode yield and wavelength alignment yield

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device merges the advantages of DFB lasers (simple structure) with DBR lasers (tunable wavelength) by combining a grating region for wavelength selection, a gain region for amplification, and a broadband reflector for feedback. This merging achieves both high single-mode yield and wavelength alignment yield while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 achieves 100% wavelength alignment and single-mode selection, reduces heat scattering, and decreases component costs by integrating multiple DBR lasers and optical multiplexers, enhancing thermal tuning efficiency and reducing heat crosstalk.

Implementation Method 1

in the thermal tuning, a heater is usually disposed on a surface of a waveguide structure of an optical chip to heat the waveguide structure, to change reflectivity of some materials in the waveguide structure, thereby implementing adjustment of a phase and a wavelength of a light wave transmitted in the waveguide structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal tuning: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

the first support structure can achieve heat isolation and concentrate heat within the cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat isolation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12597758B2Two-segment DBR laser and monolithically integrated array light source chip

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

This application provides a two-segment DBR laser and a monolithically integrated array light source chip, and relates to the field of optical communications. The two-segment DBR laser includes a grating region, a gain region, and a broadband reflector. The grating region and the broadband reflector are respectively disposed at two ends of the gain region. The grating region includes a first bottom liner, a first support structure, a first ridge waveguide structure, and a first heater. The first ridge waveguide structure is fastened by the first support structure and suspended in midair above the first bottom liner, and the first bottom liner, the first support structure, and the first ridge waveguide structure jointly form a cavity. The first heater is located on a surface that is of the first ridge waveguide structure and that faces away from the cavity.