CN2479519Y - Array waveguide interferometer - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a array waveguide interference device, belonging to the waveguide technological art, which is particularly suitable for a core device or a key part of an optical communication network, a spectrum measurement, a sensing, a laser apparatus and an integral photoelectric apparatus, comprising an input optical waveguide and an output optical waveguide, wherein an array optical waveguide which performs the coupling function is equipped between both, the optical waveguide is a straight or/and a curve optical waveguide and is make on a visible carrier. The utility model has the advantages that the utility model can realize quite high wave length resolution factor or quite narrow channel and has a modularized structure, only a mode is needed when adding the channel, to the same apparatus, the entering loss doesn't increase with the increasing of the channel number. The utility model adopts the photomask mode technological batch manufacturing in the large scale integral circuit technology, and has good repeatability.

Description

Waveguide array interferometer

The utility model relates to a kind of Waveguide array interferometer, belongs to the guide technology field, is specially adapted to do the core apparatus or the critical component of optical communication network, optical information transmission and disposal system, spectral measurement, sensing, Laser Devices, integrated optoelectronic device.

The conventional interference device comprises Fabry-Perot interferometer, Mach-Zehnder interferometer, Michelson interferometer etc., they are widely used in various fields such as spectral analysis, Laser Devices, precision measurement, photoelastic analysis, many Fibre Optical Sensors, as stress, strain, temperature, magnetic field Fibre Optical Sensor etc., also be that the one section enhanced sensitivity optical fiber that plays the sensing effect is realized sensing measurement as the part of above-mentioned interference device.The optical communication network develops rapidly in recent years, need various passive and active optical components, as wavelength (de) multiplexing/wavelength multiplexer (WDMUX/WMUX, Wavelength demultipler/wavelengthmultiplexer), wavelength-selective switches (WSS, Wavelength-selective switches), wavelength is selected route (WSS, Wavelength-selective routing), wavelength selective coupler (WSC, Wavelength-selective coupler), wavelength add-drop multiplexer (WADM, Wavelengthadd/drop multiplexer), optoisolator (Isolator), narrow wavelength high stable laser etc., and to many parameters, as channel spacing, channel number, insert loss, return loss, channel isolation, device size and proposed very high requirement with the compatibility of optical fiber etc. adopts the above-mentioned interference device to be difficult to fully satisfy these needs.For example the light wave demodulation multiplexer of using the Fabry-Perot interferometer to make owing to be multiple-beam interference, can reach very high wavelength resolution, but the only corresponding channel of demodulation multiplexer, integrated level is not high, and the insertion loss is big.And Mach-Zehnder interferometer and Michelson interferometer adopt two-beam interference, and wavelength resolution is low.The multiplexer and demultiplexer of making according to the Mach-Zehnder interferometer requires channel spacing more than 10nm, is mainly used in dual wavelength or bigger at interval multi-wavelength application.Multi-coated interference wave filter (Multilayer interference filters) is if reach the desired narrow-band filtering effect of optical communication in addition, complex structure, and the manufacturing cost height, and also size is big, and integrated level is low, thereby channel number is very limited.The above-mentioned limitation of conventional interference device has limited their widespread uses aspect optical communication, therefore develop in the optical communication network field and many new devices, as array waveguide grating (AWG, Arrayed waveguide grating), Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG, Fiber Bragg grating) etc.Wherein array waveguide grating is an optical path difference of utilizing waveguide array to produce, and the light wave of different wave length is separated at the space diffraction, is coupled among the different fiber passage again.Can realize very high optical channel number with array waveguide grating, but it does not possess modular construction.Fiber Bragg Grating is to its refractive index is carried out periodic modulation along fiber axis, produce bragg reflection, it is a kind of arrowband notch filter or narrowband reflection device, it possesses modular construction, increase a passage only needs to add a Fiber Bragg Grating more, but refractive index is modulated and needed special technology during fabrication.

The purpose of this utility model is to overcome above-mentioned the deficiencies in the prior art part, a kind of Waveguide array interferometer that can be used to make various optical-fiber network devices, senser element, optical spectrum instrumentation, Laser Devices, integrated optoelectronic device is provided, this Waveguide array interferometer wavelength resolution height, compatible good, simple in structure, have modular construction, can adopt the photomask technology in the large scale integrated circuit technology to make in batches, solve the problem that constitutes the narrow-band interference device with optical waveguide.

For achieving the above object, the technical solution of the utility model is: Waveguide array interferometer comprises input waveguide 1, and output optical waveguide 2, between have had the array optical waveguide 3 of coupling, and described array optical waveguide 3 is formed by being no less than two one optical waveguides 4; The optical waveguide 4 of input waveguide 1, output optical waveguide 2 and array optical waveguide 3 is a linear or/and the shaped form optical waveguide, and is produced on the visible carrier 5, and described carrier 5 is planar substrates or three-dimensional member.

Ultimate principle of the present utility model is: the light wave fields in the input waveguide 1 is coupled to output optical waveguide 2 by array optical waveguide 3, because array optical waveguide 3 contains many optical waveguides 4, and each optical waveguide 4 is introduced certain optical path difference, all light waves are interfered stack in output optical waveguide 2 like this, the result has only the optical wavelength that satisfies certain condition that constructive interference could take place, from output optical waveguide 2 outputs.According to this design feature, therefore this interferometer is referred to as Waveguide array interferometer (AWI, Arrayedwaveguide interferometer).Different with AWG is that the utility model has utilized the interference of multiple beam, rather than the diffraction of multiple beam.Because adopt multiple-beam interference, Waveguide array interferometer can be realized very high wavelength resolution.The wavelength resolution of Waveguide array interferometer generally can reach n/one of output center wavelength, and wherein n is the number of contained optical waveguide 4 in the array optical waveguide 3.Therefore when output center wavelength was 1500nm, if reach the wavelength resolution of 0.15nm, the number of contained optical waveguide 4 will reach 10000 in the general array optical waveguide 3.

Below in conjunction with drawings and Examples the utility model is described in further detail:

Fig. 1 is that the optical waveguide 4 in input waveguide 1 and output optical waveguide 2 and the array optical waveguide 3 all is the linear optical waveguide, and carrier 5 is when being planar substrates, the embodiment synoptic diagram of Waveguide array interferometer.

Fig. 2 is that the optical waveguide 4 of array optical waveguide 3 is the shaped form optical waveguide, and input waveguide 1 and output optical waveguide 2 are the linear optical waveguide, and the embodiment synoptic diagram of carrier 5 when being planar substrates.

Fig. 3 is the optical waveguide 4 of array optical waveguide 3, and input waveguide 1 and output optical waveguide 2 parts are the linear optical waveguide, and part is the shaped form optical waveguide, and the embodiment synoptic diagram of carrier 5 when being planar substrates.

Fig. 4 is the optical waveguide 4 of array optical waveguide 3, and input waveguide 1 and output optical waveguide 2 all are the shaped form optical waveguide, and the embodiment synoptic diagram of carrier 5 when being planar substrates.

Waveguide array interferometer comprises input waveguide 1 among Fig. 1, and output optical waveguide 2, between have array optical waveguide 3, and array optical waveguide 3 is formed by being no less than two one optical waveguides 4.Array optical waveguide 3 is used for that the light wave fields of input waveguide 1 is coupled to output optical waveguide 2 and interferes stack.I among the figure _InAnd I _OutRepresent the input and output light field respectively.Be to realize constructive interference, should make light wave from the input port input of input waveguide 1, the optical path difference when arriving the output port of output optical waveguides 2 through adjacent two one optical waveguides 4 in the array optical waveguide 3 respectively is the integral multiple of output light-wave wavelength.But in order to improve the overall performance of Waveguide array interferometer, as improving the inhibition to secondary maximum spectrum peak, the above-mentioned optical path difference that adjacent two one optical waveguides 4 of part are produced in the process array optical waveguide 3 can depart from the integral multiple of output wavelength to a certain extent.

Waveguide array interferometer is a device with directivity simultaneously, when light wave is imported from the left input port and the right input port of input waveguide 1 respectively, through adjacent two one optical waveguides 4 in the optical waveguide array 3, optical path difference when arriving the output port of output optical waveguide 2 generally is different, this means if a certain wavelength is the left input port input of the light wave of λ from input waveguide 1, can be coupled outputs to output optical waveguide 2, and then the light wave of same wavelength can not be coupled when the right input port of input waveguide 1 is imported and output to output optical waveguide 2.If with the input port input of light wave fields from input waveguide 1, through array optical waveguide 3, light wave vows that the angle that turns over is as the angle between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2 in the process of the output port of arrival output optical waveguide 2, then in Fig. 1, when light wave during from the left input port input of input waveguide 1, the angle between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2 is an acute angle.And when light wave during from the right input port input of input waveguide 1, the angle between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2 is the obtuse angle.Therefore when all adopting the linear optical waveguide, the angle between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2 is between 0～180 degree.

Because the optical waveguide 4 of array optical waveguide 3 is the shaped form optical waveguide, the angle between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2 can be between 0～360 degree among Fig. 2.General angle increases the optical path difference when helping increasing light wave and passing through adjacent two one optical waveguides in the optical waveguide array 3 respectively, helps reducing device size.

Adopted the shaped form optical waveguide among Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 respectively.Simplicity of design when adopting the linear optical waveguide, and when replacing the straight line optical waveguide with the curve optical waveguide, on the one hand help adjusting the optical path difference between the adjacent light waveguide, help adjusting on the one hand in the optical waveguide array 3 optical waveguide 4 respectively and the stiffness of coupling between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2.

Waveguide array interferometer is equivalent to a high resolving power narrow band filter, and its filtering characteristic curve depends on the parameters such as geometrical length, relative space position and refractive index of its optical waveguide.By the optical path difference between the waveguide of control adjacent light, can determine the centre wavelength and the secondary maximum of the filtering spectral pattern of Waveguide array interferometer, the position at minimum spectrum peak, pass through the number of optical waveguide 4 in the array optical waveguide 3 simultaneously, and optical waveguide 4 respectively and the relative space position between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2, as the gap, and cross sectional dimensions can be adjusted optical waveguide 4 respectively and the stiffness of coupling between input waveguide 1 and the output optical waveguide 2, thereby determine the characteristic spectrum peak heights of output spectrum of Waveguide array interferometer, and spectrum peak half width.When adopting slab guide, the input waveguide 1 of Waveguide array interferometer, output optical waveguide 2 and array optical waveguide 3 can be produced on by the photomask technology in the large scale integrated circuit technology on the same planar substrates 5.If adopt three-dimensional waveguide, ribbon fiber bundle for example, all optical waveguides can be fixed on the three-dimensional member.Adopt three-dimensional waveguide neatly forming array Waveguide interference device can further expand the range of application of Waveguide array interferometer.

Below further specify embodiment and invention effect:

The Waveguide array interferometer that the utility model proposed, although only corresponding specific wavelength of Waveguide array interferometer, or channel, but owing to adopt the light integrated technology, the Waveguide array interferometer of corresponding a plurality of optical wavelength can be integrated on the device, they shared one input or output optical waveguide, inserting loss does not so increase with the increase of Waveguide array interferometer number.That is to say that Waveguide array interferometer has modular construction, add a channel and only need increase a module.For example have not a plurality of that the Waveguide array interferometer of concentricity output wavelength is integrated on the same device, and their shared output optical waveguides, then can constitute a light wave multiplexer, equally a plurality of Waveguide array interferometers with different output center wavelengths are integrated on the same device, and their shared input waveguides then can constitute a light wave demodulation multiplexer.Further can form router by light wave demodulation multiplexer and light wave multiplexer.If two or more have the Waveguide array interferometer of identical central output wavelength along the integrated making of same input waveguide, by the stiffness of coupling of each Waveguide array interferometer and this input waveguide and putting in order mutually between them, can determine the intensity of the light wave fields that each Waveguide array interferometer is assigned, thereby constitute a kind of light distributor.If two Waveguide array interferometers with identical output center wavelength are produced in the same device, one of them Waveguide array interferometer takes out the light wave fields along the input waveguide forward-propagating, and another Waveguide array interferometer is the light wave fields that is taken out this input waveguide that is coupled back again, make it along the input waveguide backpropagation, can reach into a reverberator.Can constitute a laserresonator with two such reverberators, between these two reverberators, connect one section rare earth-doped fiber,, then can make Waveguide array interferometer optical-fiber laser etc. as er-doped, neodymium-doped fiber.If along the reverse integrated making Waveguide array interferometer of input waveguide, take out and then can make optoisolator along the light wave of input waveguide backpropagation.Pass through external carbuncle in addition, thermal deformation, the physical dimension of optical waveguide in the dynamic adjustments Waveguide array interferometers such as the electrostriction of piezoelectric ceramics, relative position, or change the refractive index of optical waveguide by electrooptical effect, can dynamically change the optical path difference between the adjacent light waveguide in the waveguide array or/and the coupling coefficient of they and I/O optical waveguide, the filtering characteristic curve of this Waveguide array interferometer then, as centre wavelength and secondary maximum, the position at minimum spectrum peak, the spectrum peak heights, and corresponding change all will take place in spectrum peak half width etc., thereby can be used for making various wavelength selective light network devices and spectrometer, sensing measurement instrument etc.

The utility model compared with prior art has the following advantages and effect:

The Waveguide array interferometer that the utility model is related owing to adopted multiple-beam interference, is therefore done Relate to device and can realize very high wavelength resolution or very narrow channel; Have modular construction, add Adding a channel only need increase a module, and to the same device, insertion loss is not with the channel number Increase and increase; Be widely used, can consist of various optical-fiber network devices and sensing, measuring instrument, as Light wave multiplexing demultiplexing device, photoswitch, coupler, router, optoisolator, spectrometer, sensing Device, reflector; This interferometer can adopt the photomask technology batch in the large scale integrated circuit technology Make, size is little, good reproducibility.

Claims (7)

1. a Waveguide array interferometer is characterized in that, it comprises input waveguide (1), and output optical waveguide (2), between have had the array optical waveguide (3) of coupling, and described array optical waveguide (3) is formed by being no less than two one optical waveguides (4); The optical waveguide (4) of input waveguide (1), output optical waveguide (2) and array optical waveguide (3), and is produced on the visible carrier (5) or/and the shaped form optical waveguide for linear, and described carrier (5) is planar substrates or three-dimensional member.

2. Waveguide array interferometer according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, light wave is from the input of the input port of input waveguide (1), and the optical path difference when passing through adjacent two one optical waveguides (4) in the array optical waveguide (3) respectively and arriving the output port of output optical waveguides (2) is the multiple of the output light-wave wavelength of output optical waveguide (2).

3. Waveguide array interferometer according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, light wave is from the input of the input port of input waveguide (1), and the optical path difference when passing through adjacent two one optical waveguides (4) in the array optical waveguide (3) respectively and arriving the output port of output optical waveguides (2) is the integral multiple of the output light-wave wavelength of output optical waveguide (2).

4. Waveguide array interferometer according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, the optical waveguide (4) of array optical waveguide (3), input waveguide (1) and output optical waveguide (2) they all are the linear optical waveguide, the angle between input waveguide (1) and the output optical waveguide (2) is between 0～180 degree.

5. Waveguide array according to claim 1 is in relating to device, it is characterized in that, the optical waveguide (4) of array optical waveguide (3) is the shaped form optical waveguide, input waveguide (1) and output optical waveguide (2) are the linear optical waveguide, and the angle between input waveguide (1) and the output optical waveguide (2) is between 0～360 degree.

6. Waveguide array interferometer according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the optical waveguide (4) of array optical waveguide (3), and input waveguide (1) and output optical waveguide (2) part are the linear optical waveguide, part is the shaped form optical waveguide.

7. Waveguide array interferometer according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the optical waveguide (4) of array optical waveguide (3), and input waveguide (1) and output optical waveguide (2) they all are the shaped form optical waveguide.

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