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US 2009/0022443 A1Published application
Thermo-Optic Devices Providing Thermal Recirculation
OwnerWei Chen, Wenlu Cheninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Thermo-optical devices providing heater recirculation in an integrated optical device are described. The thermo-optical devices include at least one waveguide having a non-linear path length in thermal communication with a thermal device. Methods of fabrication and use are also disclosed.
Claims23
An integrated optical device, comprising:
- a waveguide including an input section, an output section, and a thermal tuning section, the thermal tuning section having a path length extending between the input section and the output section, wherein the thermal tuning section includes a first linear portion and a second linear portion;
- and
- a heater provided above the thermal tuning section of the waveguide, the heater extending over an area delimited by a thermal boundary, wherein a first portion of the thermal boundary extends across the input section and a second portion of the thermal boundary extends across the output section, the first and second portions of the thermal boundary being separated by a linear distance, such that the path length is greater than the linear distance.
A planar lightwave circuit, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a cladding provided on the substrate;
- a thermo-optic device including:
- a waveguide provided on the cladding, the waveguide including an input section, an output section, and a thermal tuning section, the thermal tuning section having a path length extending between the input section and the output section, wherein the thermal tuning section includes a first linear portion and a second linear portion;
- and
- a heater provided above the thermal tuning section of the waveguide, the heater extending over an area delimited by a thermal boundary, wherein the thermal tuning section of the waveguide traverses the thermal area at least twice, and a first portion of the thermal boundary extends across the input section and a second portion of the thermal boundary extends across the output section, the first and second portions of the thermal boundary being separated by a linear distance, such that the path length is greater than the linear distance.
3 more elements
9-10. (canceled)
(canceled)
15-19. (canceled)
An integrated optical device, comprising:
- a first waveguide arm;
- and
- a second waveguide arm, a portion of the second waveguide arm including an input section, an output section, and a thermal tuning section, the thermal tuning section having a path length extending between the input section and the output section, wherein the thermal tuning section includes a first linear portion and a second linear portion;
- and
- a heater provided above the thermal tuning section of the second waveguide arm, the heater extending over an area delimited by a thermal boundary, wherein the thermal tuning section of the second waveguide arm traverses the area, and a first portion of the thermal boundary extends across the input section and a second portion of the thermal boundary extends across the output section, the first and second portions of the thermal boundary being separated by a linear distance, such that the path length is greater than the linear distance;
- wherein the heater generates a temperature differential between the first waveguide arm and the second waveguide arm.
3 more elements
21-22. (canceled)
An integrated optical device, comprising:
- a waveguide including an input section, an output section, and a thermal tuning section, the thermal tuning section having a path length extending between the input section and the output section, wherein the thermal tuning section includes a first linear portion and a second linear portion;
- and
- a heater provided below the thermal tuning section of the waveguide, the heater extending over an area delimited by a thermal boundary, wherein a first portion of the thermal boundary extends across the input section and a second portion of the thermal boundary extends across the output section, the first and second portions of the thermal boundary being separated by a linear distance, such that the path length is greater than the linear distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.