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US 12,663,665 B2Granted
Compact optical phase shifter
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsJason S. Pelc, Wei Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to photonic integrated circuits that include a carrier-based phase shifter. The carrier-based phase shifter is configured as a PIN phase shifter with a pair of traces that delivers current through a PIN diode. The PIN phase shifter is configured such that current flows through the pair of traces in a common direction.
Claims20
A photonic integrated circuit comprising:
- a substrate;
- a cladding layer supported by the substrate;
- a waveguide layer positioned on the cladding layer, the waveguide layer comprising a first doping region, a second doping region, and a waveguide positioned between the first doping region and the second doping region to form a diode;
- and
- a phase shifter comprising:
- the diode;
- a first set of conductive vias;
- a first conductive trace electrically connected to the first doping region via the first set of conductive vias;
- a second set of conductive vias;
- a second conductive trace electrically connected to the second doping region via the second set of conductive vias;
- and
- a control circuit configured to drive current through the diode via the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace, wherein:
- the waveguide is configured to carry light along a length of the waveguide;
- and
- the phase shifter is configured such that the current driven through the diode flows through the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace in a common direction along the length of the waveguide.
12 more elements
A photonic integrated circuit comprising:
- a first phase shifter;
- a second phase shifter;
- and a control circuit configured to operate the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter, wherein:
- each of the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter comprises:
- a diode comprising a waveguide positioned between a first doping region and a second doping region;
- a first conductive trace electrically connected to the first doping region;
- and
- a second conductive trace electrically connected to the second doping region;
- the second conductive trace of the first phase shifter comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion;
- the second portion of the second conductive trace of the first phase shifter crosses over the waveguide of the second phase shifter;
- and
- the waveguide of the first phase shifter is configured to carry light along a length of the waveguide of the first phase shifter;
- the control circuit is configured to drive current through the diode of the first phase shifter such that current flows through the first conductive trace of the first phase shifter and the first portion of the second conductive trace of the first phase shifter in a common direction along the length of the waveguide of the first phase shifter.
10 more elements
A photonic integrated circuit comprising:
- a first phase shifter;
- a second phase shifter;
- and a control circuit configured to operate the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter, wherein:
- each of the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter comprises:
- a diode comprising a waveguide positioned between a first doping region and a second doping region;
- a first conductive trace electrically connected to the first doping region;
- and
- a second conductive trace electrically connected to the second doping region;
- the second conductive trace of the first phase shifter and the second conductive trace of the second phase shifter are electrically connected to a common conductive trace;
- the control circuit is configured to drive current through the diode of the first phase shifter such that current flows through the first conductive trace of the first phase shifter and a first portion of the second conductive trace of the first phase shifter in a common direction along a length of the waveguide of the first phase shifter.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.