US 9,036,954 B2Granted

Optical waveguide structure

AssigneeIntel Corporation

InventorsMauro J. Kobrinsky, Bruce A. Block, Peter L. Chang

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Abstract

Embodiments of the invention describe a multi-segment optical waveguide that enables an optical modulator to be low-power and athermal by decreasing the device length needed for a given waveguide length. Embodiments of the invention describe an optical waveguide that is folded onto itself, and thus includes at least two sections. Thus, embodiments of the invention may decrease the device size of a modulator by at least around a factor of two if the device is folded twofold (device size may be further reduced if the modulator is folded threefold, four-fold, five-fold, etc.). Embodiments of the invention further enable the electrode length required to create the desired electro-optic effect for the multi-segment optical waveguide to be reduced. In embodiments of the invention, certain electrodes may be “shared” amongst the different segments of the waveguide, thereby reducing the power requirement and capacitance of a device having a waveguide of a given length.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising

a plurality of electrodes including a first electrode, a second electrode complementary to the first electrode, and a third electrode complimentary to the second electrode, each of the plurality of electrodes aligned relatively parallel to each other;
and
a multi-segment optical waveguide including optically active material and comprising a first segment positioned between the first and second electrodes, and a second segment positioned between the second and third electrodes, the second segment to receive light from the first segment and to propagate the light received from the first segment between the second and third electrodes;
the refractive index of the optically active material of the first segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the first and second electrodes, and the refractive index of the optically active material of the second segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the second and third electrodes;
wherein the plurality of electrodes further comprises a fourth electrode complementary to the third electrode, the multi-segment optical waveguide further comprising a third segment, to receive light from the second segment, positioned between the third and fourth electrodes, the refractive index of the optically active material of the third segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the third and fourth electrodes.

2 more elements

A system comprising:

a light source;
a modulator including
a plurality of electrodes including a first electrode, a second electrode complementary to the first electrode, and a third electrode complimentary to the second electrode, each of the plurality of electrodes aligned relatively parallel to each other, and
a multi-segment optical waveguide including optically active material and comprising a first segment positioned between the first and second electrodes, and a second segment positioned between the second and third electrodes, the second segment to receive light from the first segment and to propagate the light received from the first segment between the second and third electrodes, the refractive index of the optically active material of the first segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the first and second electrodes, and the refractive index of the optically active material of the second segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the second and third electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes of the modulator further comprises a fourth electrode complementary to the third electrode, the multi-segment optical waveguide further comprising a third segment, to receive light from the second segment, positioned between the third and fourth electrodes, the refractive index of the optically active material of the third segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the third and fourth electrodes;
and
a transmission medium, the light source to transmit light to the modulator via the transmission medium.

3 more elements

A system comprising:

a processor;
a memory;
and
an integrated circuit (IC), the IC and at least one of the processor and the memory to exchange data via a chip-to-chip optical interface, the chip-to-chip optical interface to include a modulator comprising
a plurality of electrodes including a first electrode, a second electrode complementary to the first electrode, and a third electrode complimentary to the second electrode, each of the plurality of electrodes aligned relatively parallel to each other, and
a multi-segment optical waveguide including optically active material and comprising a first segment positioned between the first and second electrodes, and a second segment positioned between the second and third electrodes, the second segment to receive light from the first segment and to propagate the light received from the first segment between the second and third electrodes, the refractive index of the optically active material of the first segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the first and second electrodes, and the refractive index of the optically active material of the second segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the and third electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes of the modulator further comprises a fourth electrode complementary to the third electrode, the multi-segment optical waveguide further comprising a third segment, to receive light from the second segment, positioned between the third and fourth electrodes, the refractive index of the optically active material of the third segment to change based on an electrical difference applied to the third and fourth electrodes.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/078,210Filed 1 Apr 2011
Published: US 2012/0251029 A14 Oct 2012
Granted: 19 May 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G02F 1/035
Based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect: in an optical waveguide structure
G02F 1/025
Based on semiconductor elements having potential barriers, e.g. having a PN or PIN junction: in an optical waveguide structure
G02F 1/065
Based on electro-optical organic material: in an optical waveguide structure
G02F 1/225
By interference: in an optical waveguide structure