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US 12,631,827 B2Granted
Broadband controllable optical phase shifters
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsMark A. Arbore, Jason S. Pelc
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments disclosed herein describe optomechanical phase shifters. The optomechanical phase shifters may be configured with an asymmetry that improves the performance of the OM phase shifter as a function of wavelength. In some instances, the optomechanical phase shifter includes a section of a waveguide having an asymmetric cross-sectional shape. In other instances an optomechanical phase shifter is incorporated into a controllable optical switch, such that OM phase shifters may be actuated to selectively route light to different outputs of the controllable optical switch.
Claims19
A photonic integrated circuit comprising:
- a substrate having a top surface;
- a waveguide supported on the top surface of the substrate;
- and
- an optomechanical phase shifter configured to change a phase of light traveling through a length of the waveguide, wherein:
- the optomechanical phase shifter comprises:
- a moveable structure;
- and
- an actuator configured to move the moveable structure relative to the length of the waveguide between a first position and a second position;
- and
- the length of the waveguide has an asymmetric cross-sectional shape that is configured such that a distance between the moveable structure and a centroid of an amplitude profile of a mode of light traveling through the length of the waveguide increases as a function of wavelength.
7 more elements
A photonic integrated circuit, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a waveguide supported on the substrate;
- a controllable phase tuner configured to adjust a phase of light traveling through a length of the waveguide by a target amount;
- and
- a controller, wherein:
- the controllable phase tuner comprises:
- a first phase shifter positioned to adjust the phase of light traveling through a first section of the length of the waveguide;
- and
- a second phase shifter positioned to adjust the phase of light traveling through a second section of the length of the waveguide;
- the first phase shifter comprises:
- a moveable structure;
- and
- an actuator configured to move the moveable structure relative to the length of the waveguide between a first position and a second position;
- the first section of the length of the waveguide has an asymmetric cross-sectional shape configured to reduce a wavelength dependence of a phase shift generated by the first phase shifter;
- the controller controls the first phase shifter using a wavelength-independent control signal to adjust the phase of light traveling through the first section of the length of the waveguide by a first amount;
- the controller controls the second phase shifter using a wavelength-dependent control signal to adjust the phase of light traveling through the first section of the length of the waveguide by a second amount;
- and
- the target amount is equal to a sum of the first amount and the second amount.
15 more elements
A photonic integrated circuit comprising:
- a controllable switch comprising:
- a first coupler having a first input, a first output, and a second output;
- a second coupler having a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output;
- a first leg connecting the first output of the first coupler to the first input of the second coupler;
- a second leg connecting the second output of the first coupler to the second input of the second coupler;
- a first optomechanical phase shifter positioned and controllable to selectively provide a first amount of phase shift to light traveling through one of the first leg or the second leg;
- and
- a second optomechanical phase shifter positioned and controllable to selectively provide a second amount of phase shift to light traveling through one of the first leg or the second leg;
- wherein:
- the first amount of phase shift is provided to a first section of a length of a waveguide having an asymmetric cross-sectional shape, the asymmetric cross-sectional shape configured to reduce a wavelength dependence of the first amount of phase shift;
- the first optomechanical phase shifter and the second optomechanical phase shifter are controllable to selectively route light received by the first input of the first coupler between the first output and the second output of the second coupler.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.