Stable center wavelength performance in non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit chip
View Patent ↗An optical device with a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit over a substantially flat portion of a riser, the riser also equipped with a relief structure that is in thermal contact with a stabilizing brace that is in turn connected to two portions of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit. The non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit exhibits reduced center wavelength drift.
1. An optical device comprising:
a base comprising a riser, the riser comprising a substantially flat portion and a relief structure;
a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit over the substantially flat portion of the riser;
a stabilizing brace connected to a first portion of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit and a second portion of the of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit through free space; and
an apparatus for controlling temperature of at least one of the riser, the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit, and the stabilizing brace;
the substantially flat portion of the riser in thermal contact with the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit and the relief structure of the riser in thermal contact with the stabilizing brace.
2. The optical device of claim 1 , the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit having a center wavelength sensitivity of about 10 picometers or less per degree C. over the temperature range of −5° C. to 65° C.
3. The optical device of claim 1 , the stabilizing brace and a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit substrate are made of materials that have coefficients of thermal expansion within about 25% of each other.
4. The optical device of claim 1 , the optical integrated circuit comprises a planar lightwave circuit.
5. The optical device of claim 1 , the stabilizing brace comprising a thermal actuator.
6. The optical device of claim 1 further comprising a heater in thermal contact with the riser.
7. The optical device of claim 1 , the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit comprising an arrayed waveguide grating.
8. The optical device of claim 1 , the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit having curvilinear and straight edges.
9. An optical device comprising:
a base comprising a riser, the riser comprising a substantially flat portion and a relief structure;
a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit over the substantially flat portion of the riser;
a stabilizing brace connected to a first portion of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit and a second portion of the of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit through free space; and
an apparatus for controlling temperature of at least one of the riser, the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit, and the stabilizing brace,
the substantially flat portion of the riser in thermal contact with the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit and the relief structure of the riser in thermal contact with the stabilizing brace, the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit having a center wavelength sensitivity of about 7.5 picometers or less per degree C. over the temperature range of −5° C. to 65° C.
10. The optical device of claim 9 , the stabilizing brace and a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit substrate are made of materials that have coefficients of thermal expansion within about 25% of each other.
11. The optical device of claim 9 , the optical integrated circuit comprises a planar lightwave circuit.
12. The optical device of claim 9 , the stabilizing brace comprising a thermal actuator.
13. The optical device of claim 9 further comprising a heater in thermal contact with the riser.
14. The optical device of claim 9 , the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit comprising an arrayed waveguide grating.
15. The optical device of claim 9 , the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit having curvilinear and straight edges.
16. An optical device comprising:
a base comprising a riser, the riser comprising a substantially flat portion and a relief structure;
a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit over the substantially flat portion of the riser;
a stabilizing brace connected to a first portion of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit and a second portion of the of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit through free space; and
an apparatus for controlling temperature of at least one of the riser, the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit, and the stabilizing brace,
the substantially flat portion of the riser in thermal contact with the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit and the relief structure of the riser in thermal contact with the stabilizing brace, the stabilizing brace and a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit substrate are made of materials that have coefficients of thermal expansion within about 10% of each other.
17. The optical device of claim 16 , the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit having a center wavelength sensitivity of about 5 picometers or less per degree C. over the temperature range of −5° C. to 65° C.
18. The optical device of claim 16 , the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit comprising an arrayed waveguide grating.
19. The optical device of claim 16 , the stabilizing brace comprising a thermal actuator.
20. The optical device of claim 16 further comprising a heater in thermal contact with the riser.