Tapered amplitude optical absorber for waveguide photodetectors

Details Tapered amplitude optical absorber for waveguide photodetectors Tapered amplitude optical absorber for waveguide photodetectors

1999-03-05

2000-12-26

Palmer, Phan T. H.

Optical waveguides

With optical coupler

Particular coupling function

385 14, 385 31, 385 50, 385 43, G02B 626

Patent

active

06167172&

ABSTRACT:
An optical waveguide device (30) that limits the peak optical intensity applied to an optical absorbing device (36), such as a photodetector or electro-absorption modulator. The optical waveguide device (30) includes a single mode input waveguide (34) coupled to a multi-mode, waveguide interference coupler (32). A single mode output waveguide (38) collects the light from the interference coupler (32). The absorbing device (36) is defined in the waveguide coupler (32) by a reverse-biased p-i-n diode structure. A voltage potential applied to the diode structure creates an electric field across the waveguide coupler (32) that causes the waveguide coupler (32) to absorb. Light entering the interference coupler (32) from the single mode waveguide (34) expands into other propagation modes that interact to constructively and destructively interfere. Because the light expands in the coupler (32), the amplitude of the light decreases even though the overall power remains substantially the same. When the light recombines as it approaches the output waveguide (38), the amplitude of the light returns to the input amplitude. The absorbing device (36) is defined in the waveguide coupler (32) between the area of interference (24) and the output waveguide (38). The absorption in the absorbing device (36) is exponential; the most light is absorbed at first and then progressively less light along the device.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3832029 (1974-08-01), Bryngdahl
patent: 4950045 (1990-08-01), Bricheno et al.
patent: 5689597 (1997-11-01), Besse
patent: 5949931 (1999-09-01), Kitamura

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