Multi-mode interference manipulator
AssigneeMitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsKeisuke Kojima, Bingnan Wang, Toshiaki Koike-Akino, Wangqing Yuan, Satoshi Nishikawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-mode interference includes a core portion suitable, at any point, for propagating an optical signal having multiple spatial modes. The core portion includes a shifting section for shifting phases of the spatial modes of the optical signal.
Claims19
A multi-mode interference (MMI) device, comprising:
- a core portion suitable, at any point, for propagating an optical signal having multiple spatial modes, wherein the core portion includes a shifting section for shifting phases of the spatial modes of the optical signal, wherein the optical signal includes a first component in a transverse electric (TE) mode and a second component in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode, and wherein the optical signal is split into a first signal of the TE mode and a second signal of the TM mode;
- an input section for accepting the optical signal;
- and
- an output section for outputting the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein the shifting section includes a first shifting section arranged in parallel with the input section and a second shifting section arranged in parallel with the output section, wherein the second shifting section is tilted with respect to the first shifting section, and wherein a portion of the shifting section is covered with a metal overlay.
A multi-mode interference (MMI) device, comprising:
- a core portion suitable, at any point, for propagating an optical signal having multiple spatial modes, wherein the core portion includes a shifting section for shifting phases of the spatial modes of the optical signal, wherein the optical signal includes a first component in a transverse electric (TE) mode and a second component in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode, and wherein the optical signal is split into a first signal of the TE mode and a second signal of the TM mode;
- an input section for accepting the optical signal;
- and
- an output section for outputting the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein the output section includes a first output arm for outputting the first component in the TM mode, and a second output arm for outputting the second component in the TE mode, wherein the second output arm includes a mode converter.
A multi-mode interference (MMI) device, comprising:
- a core portion suitable, at any point, for propagating an optical signal having multiple spatial modes, wherein the core portion includes a shifting section for shifting phases of the spatial modes of the optical signal, wherein the optical signal includes a first component in a transverse electric (TE) mode and a second component in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode, and wherein the optical signal is split into a first signal of the TE mode and a second signal of the TM mode, and wherein a first part of the shifting section adds an extra −π/2 phase shift to the first component in the TM mode, and a second part of the shifting section adds an extra −π/2 phase shift to the second component in the TE mode.
A method for manipulating an optical signal having a first component in a transverse electric (TE) mode and a second component in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode, comprising:
- propagating the optical signal in a multi-mode interference (MMI) device suitable for propagating the optical signal at any point of a core portion of the device;
- and
- shifting phases of the first and the second components of the optical signal such that the optical signal is manipulated, wherein the shifting is based on surface plasmons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.