US 2025/0020949 A1Published application

Stress-Optic Phase Controller Having Enhanced Stress-Inducing Capability

AssigneeLioniX International BV

InventorsArnoud Sebastiaan EVERHARDT, Ronald DEKKER, René Gerrit HEIDEMAN, Thi Lan Anh TRAN

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Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling the phase of at least one light signal in a planar-lightwave circuit (PLC) via a stress-optic (SO) phase controller. SO phase controllers in accordance with the present disclosure include a stress-inducing element disposed on a dome-shaped surface of the upper cladding of an integrated-optics-based waveguide, where the dome surface includes little or no linear portion. Such a dome-shaped surface improves the effectiveness with which the stress-inducing element can impart stress in the waveguide materials, thereby reducing the drive voltage and/or interaction length required to induce a given phase shift as compared to the prior art.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An integrated-optics-based photonics circuit comprising a first phase controller, wherein the first phase controller includes:

a first waveguide disposed on a substrate, the first waveguide including:
(i) a first lower cladding;
(ii) a first core disposed on the first lower cladding, wherein the first core has a first width;
and
(iii) a first upper cladding disposed on the first core, wherein the first upper cladding includes a first dome having a first surface that includes a first flat zone having a second width that is less than the first width, wherein the first dome is at least partially disposed above the first core;
and
a first stress-optic phase control (SOPC) element disposed on the first dome, wherein the first SOPC element includes:
(i) a first portion of a piezoelectric layer;
and
(ii) first and second electrodes that are electrically connected with the piezoelectric layer;
wherein the first SOPC element is operative for inducing a first refractive-index change in the first waveguide by imparting a first stress in at least one of the first core and first upper cladding.

8 more elements

A method for forming a planar-lightwave circuit (PLC) on a substrate, the method comprising:

forming a first waveguide on the substrate such that the first waveguide includes a first lower cladding, a first core having a first width, and a first upper cladding having a first dome having a first flat zone having a second width that is less that the first width;
and
forming a first stress-optic phase control (SOPC) element disposed on the first dome, wherein the SOPC element includes a first piezoelectric layer, a first electrode and a second electrode that are electrically connected with the first piezoelectric layer;
wherein the first SOPC element is formed such that it is operative for inducing a first refractive-index change in the first waveguide by imparting a first stress in at least one of the first core and the first upper cladding.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/763,392Filed 3 Jul 2024
Priority: 12 Jul 2023
Published: 16 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G02F 1/011
For the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour: in optical waveguides, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
G02F 1/0134
Based on photo-elastic effects, e.g. mechanically induced birefringence: in optical waveguides
G02B 6/02076
Comprising gratings: refractive index modulation gratings, e.g. Bragg gratings
G02B 6/29353
In a light guide: with a wavelength selective element in at least one light guide interferometer arm, e.g. grating, interference filter, resonator