WDM Optical Receiver Polarization Beam Splitter Loop Waveguide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wavelength division multiplexing optical receivers using silicon wire waveguides face issues with polarization-dependent transmission properties, leading to signal deterioration and increased complexity due to the need for multiple polarization rotators and multiplexers, resulting in excess loss and reduced receiving efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength division multiplexing optical receiver design that includes an input waveguide, a polarization beam splitter, a loop waveguide with a polarization rotator, and add-drop ring resonators, which demultiplexes signals into TE and TE* modes without requiring additional polarization rotators or multiplexers, ensuring constant polarization and equal optical distances to light receivers for improved efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional wavelength division multiplexing optical receiver uses silicon wire waveguides with polarization beam splitters and loop waveguides, then the transmission properties can be maintained for specific polarization states, but the structure becomes complex requiring multiple polarization rotators and multiplexers which causes excess loss and reduced receiving efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary polarization rotators and multiplexers from the conventional structure. By using a simplified configuration where the polarization beam splitter directly connects to the loop waveguide without intermediate polarization control components, the invention removes the source of excess loss while maintaining reliable TE mode transmission properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the polarization beam splitting function with the wavelength demultiplexing function in a integrated structure. The polarization beam splitter and loop waveguide are directly connected without separate polarization rotators, combining multiple functions into a unified design that reduces complexity and loss.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple polarization rotators and multiplexers are used to maintain constant polarization, then the polarization state can be controlled, but excess loss occurs and receiving efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the polarization rotators and multiplexers that cause excess loss. By extracting these unnecessary components from the signal path, the invention maintains polarization state stability through the polarization beam splitter and loop waveguide configuration alone, eliminating the energy loss associated with multiple polarization conversions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional polarization rotators and multiplexers are added to handle polarization diversity, then polarization independence can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and receiving efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the unnecessary polarization control components that reduce receiving efficiency. The simplified structure using only a polarization beam splitter and loop waveguide achieves polarization independence by naturally separating TE and TM modes without requiring additional rotators or multiplexers, thereby maintaining high receiving efficiency.
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 design suppresses excess loss, maintains constant polarization, and simplifies the structure, enhancing the receiving efficiency by eliminating the need for additional polarization components and ensuring optimal signal processing independent of polarization states.
Implementation Method 1
a polarization beam splitter 12 for dividing multiplexed light that has entered from the input waveguide 11 into a first signal and a second signal in accordance with the polarization plane
Implementation Method 2
a polarization rotator 14 inserted into the loop waveguide 13 to rotate the polarization plane of the second signal by 90°
Implementation Method 3
a number of ring waveguides 151 to 154 made of silicon wire waveguides having different optical path lengths optically coupled to the loop waveguide 13 on the add port side
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wavelength division multiplexing optical receiver and eliminates excess loss of one polarization component while eliminating the need for a polarization-independent operation of a light receiver. An input waveguide, made of a silicon wire waveguide, is connected to a loop waveguide equipped with a polarization rotator over a polarization beam splitter. A ring waveguide equipped with an output waveguide configuring an add-drop ring resonator array is optically connected to the loop waveguide. The output light from ports at both sides of the output waveguide is incident onto first and second light-receiving surfaces of a light receiver such that the optical distances are equal to each other.