Chip-Scale WDM Router Using Photonic Crystal Superprisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WDM components are bulky, costly, and sensitive to temperature and shock, making them unsuitable for military applications, and they only support static network topologies, which cannot handle the higher signal-to-noise ratios required for analog systems.
Innovation Solution
A mixed analog and digital chip-scale reconfigurable WDM network using photonic wavelength selective optical add/drop filters and multiplexers, incorporating programmable superprisms and resonator filters, enabled by III-V on Silicon, silicon-on-insulator, and electro-optic polymer technology, allowing for rapid reconfiguration and efficient routing of both high power analog and lower power digital signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional WDM components are used, then wavelength division multiplexing functionality is achieved, but the components become bulky, costly, and sensitive to temperature and shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical and bulk optical WDM components with photonic crystal-based optical circuits integrated on a chip. The photonic crystal structures provide wavelength-selective routing through their periodic dielectric structures, eliminating the need for bulky traditional WDM components while improving reliability against temperature and shock
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using photonic bandgap effects in photonic crystals to achieve wavelength-selective routing. The periodic structures create frequency-dependent transmission characteristics that enable WDM functionality at a miniaturized scale, transforming the physical implementation from macro-scale to micro-scale
2Adaptability or versatility
If static network topology is used, then simple routing is achieved, but the system cannot support dynamic reconfiguration or mixed analog-digital signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic reconfigurability through tunable photonic crystal structures that can change their optical properties in response to control signals. This allows the network topology to be dynamically reconfigured to support different routing patterns and signal types (analog and digital) without requiring complex external switching systems
Solution Approach 2:
The photonic crystal-based router is designed to handle both analog and digital signals simultaneously through the same physical infrastructure. The wavelength-selective routing mechanism works universally for different signal types, eliminating the need for separate routing systems and reducing overall complexity
3Measurement precision
If analog signals are transmitted, then high signal-to-noise ratio is required, but traditional digital WDM components cannot provide sufficient fidelity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional digital WDM component designs with photonic crystal-based structures that provide continuous wavelength-selective transmission. This substitution enables high-fidelity analog signal transmission by maintaining consistent optical path characteristics and minimizing signal distortion, achieving the required signal-to-noise ratio for analog communications
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 provides a compact, cost-effective, and durable WDM router capable of efficiently routing both analog and digital signals, supporting dynamic network topologies and improving signal fidelity, thus enhancing communication performance in military environments.
Implementation Method 1
A first programmable superprism is associated with each of the light wavelengths predesignated as channels for carrying analog signals receiving the associated light wavelength from the plurality of optical de-multiplexers
Implementation Method 2
A programmable resonator filter is associated with each of a plurality of programmed light wavelengths predesignated as channels for carrying digital signals
Implementation Method 3
enabled by III-V on Silicon, silicon-on-insulator, and electro-optic polymer technology, allowing for rapid reconfiguration
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a mixed analog and digital chip-scale reconfigurable WDM network. The network suitably includes a router that enables rapidly configurable wavelength selective routers of fiber optic data. The router suitably incorporates photonic wavelength selective optical add/drop filters and multiplexers.