Planar Waveguide Optical Coupling Using Thin Light Sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face limitations in efficiently coupling light onto planar optical waveguides, leading to high optical loss and hindering the development of high-performance photonics circuits.
Innovation Solution
An optical coupling module that includes a light source, an optical module to convert optical signals into thin light sheets, and a planar optical waveguide, where the thickness and width of the light sheets are adjusted to match the waveguide's dimensions, minimizing optical loss through a combination of optical lenses and metasurface elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional optical coupling methods are used to couple light onto planar optical waveguides, then the coupling process is simple, but high optical loss occurs leading to poor transmission performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light sheet generator as an intermediary component between the light source and the planar optical waveguide. This generator converts conventional light into light sheets with specific thickness and width parameters that match the waveguide dimensions, thereby reducing optical coupling loss while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the light properties from conventional forms to light sheets with controlled thickness and width. The light sheet generator modifies the spatial parameters of the light to optimize coupling efficiency with the planar optical waveguide, directly addressing the optical loss problem through physical parameter transformation
2Productivity
If light is coupled onto planar optical waveguides using existing technologies, then the implementation is straightforward, but transmission efficiency is reduced due to high optical loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional three-dimensional light propagation to two-dimensional light sheet propagation. By confining light in one dimension to create a sheet with specific thickness, the system achieves better mode matching with the planar waveguide, improving transmission efficiency while the modular light sheet generator keeps the overall structural complexity manageable
3Loss of energy
If conventional light sources are directly coupled to planar optical waveguides, then the system structure is simple, but optical coupling loss is high
Solution Approach 1:
The light sheet generator transforms light parameters to create sheets with optimized thickness and width that naturally match the planar waveguide dimensions. This parameter transformation simplifies the alignment process by providing a well-defined light profile, reducing coupling loss while maintaining ease of operation through standardized light sheet parameters
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 reduces optical coupling loss, enhancing the performance and efficiency of light transmission in planar optical waveguides.
Implementation Method 1
an optical module configured to convert the optical signal into a light sheet
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an optical coupling module. The optical coupling module includes a light source configured to output an optical signal, an optical module configured to convert the optical signal into a light sheet, and a planar optical waveguide on a substrate, wherein the planar optical waveguide includes an input waveguide provided to one end portion of the planar optical waveguide, the light sheet includes input light that is incident between an upper surface and lower surface of an incidence surface of the input waveguide, and a thickness of the input light of the light sheet is less than a horizontal width of the input light of the light sheet.