ARRAYED WAVEGUIDE GRATING

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20130114929
  • Publication Number
    20130114929
  • Date Filed
    December 20, 2012
    11 years ago
  • Date Published
    May 09, 2013
    11 years ago
Abstract
An arrayed waveguide grating includes input waveguides, an input slab waveguide, n output waveguides, an output slab waveguide, and an arrayed waveguide. Gaps are formed in the output waveguides other than the output waveguides of both sides of an array of the output waveguides, respectively, such that loss increases toward the central side of the array. Sizes of the gaps in the output waveguides increase toward the central side of the array.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention


The present invention related to an arrayed waveguide grating.


2. Description of the Related Art


In general, in an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), since strength distribution of diffracted light from an arrayed waveguide is a Gauss function, an envelope of loss in output waveguides also becomes the Gauss function. For this reason, it can be seen that loss is large in waveguides of ends of an array of the output waveguides and loss is small in a central waveguide of the array.


In order to improve loss uniformity, a method that increases a free spectral range (FSR) of the AWG is generally used. However, if the FSR increases, a circuit size increases. As a result, there is a limitation in the increase amount of the FSR.


Meanwhile, as a method that improves loss uniformity without greatly increasing the FSR as described above, a method that changes the width of a fiber connection portion is suggested, as disclosed in “Engineering study magazine, Hitachi Cable (2000.1, No. 19).


However, in the related art that is disclosed in “Engineering study magazine, Hitachi Cable (2000.1, No19)”, production error occurs at the time of fiber connection and there is a problem from a point of view of stable production.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in views of the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an arrayed waveguide grating in which a circuit size is not increased, a manufacturing influence is small, and loss uniformity is improved.


In order to resolve the above problems, an arrayed waveguide grating according to an aspect of the present invention includes at least one input waveguide; an input slab waveguide that is connected to the input waveguide; plural output waveguides; an output slab waveguide that is connected to the output waveguides; and an arrayed waveguide that is connected between the input slab waveguide and the output slab waveguide. Gaps are formed in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of an array of the plural output waveguides, respectively, such that loss increases toward the central side of the array.


According to this configuration, loss uniformity of the plural output waveguides is improved. Since this method is not the method that improves the loss uniformity by increasing a free spectral range (FSR), a circuit size does not increase. Since the gaps can be easily formed using a semiconductor fine processing technology (photolithography), a manufacturing influence is small.


In an arrayed waveguide grating according to another aspect of the present invention, sizes of the gaps are different from each other in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of the array. According to this configuration, loss uniformity of the plural output waveguides is improved.


In an arrayed waveguide grating according to another aspect of the present invention, sizes of the gaps increase toward the central side of the array, in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of the array. According to this configuration, loss increases toward the central side of the array. As a result, loss uniformity of the plural output waveguides is improved.


In an arrayed waveguide grating according to another aspect of the present invention, sizes of the gaps in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of the array are equal to each other, an end of an emission-side waveguide portion that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide of two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps, is formed with a tapered end where the core width of the emission-side waveguide portion gradually decreases toward the end side of the waveguide portion, and a mode field diameter of the tapered end is smaller than a mode field diameter of the another waveguide portion facing to the tapered end and decreases toward the central side of the array.


According to this configuration, a mode field diameter of the end of the emission-side waveguide portion that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide of the two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps is decreased toward the central side of the array. Therefore, as the output waveguides come close to the central side, a diffusion angle based on diffraction increases and loss increases. As a result, loss uniformity of the plural output waveguides is improved.


In an arrayed waveguide grating according to another aspect of the present invention, a mode field diameter of an end of an emission-side waveguide portion that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide of two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps decreases toward the central side of the array.


According to this configuration, the sizes of the gaps of the output waveguides other than the output waveguides of both sides of the array are increased toward the central side of the array, and a mode field diameter of the end of the emission-side waveguide portion in the two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps is set to decrease toward the central side of the array. By this combination, loss uniformity of the plural output waveguides is further improved.


In an arrayed waveguide grating according to another aspect of the present invention, sizes of the gaps in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of the array are equal to each other, an end of an emission-side waveguide portion that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide of two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps, is formed with a tapered end where the core width of the emission-side waveguide portion gradually increases toward the end side of the waveguide portion, and a mode field diameter of the tapered end is larger than a mode field diameter of the another waveguide portion facing to the tapered end and increases toward the outside of the array.


According to this configuration, as the output waveguides come close to the outside, a diffusion angle based on diffraction decreases and loss decreases. As a result, loss uniformity of the plural output waveguides is improved.


According to the present invention, an arrayed waveguide grating in which a circuit size is not increased, a manufacturing influence is small, and loss uniformity is improved can be provided.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1A is a plan view illustrating an arrayed waveguide grating according to an embodiment of the present invention;



FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of an X portion of FIG. 1A;



FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an output waveguide number (channel number) and a loss variation in each channel;



FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a gap (waveguide gap) and loss;



FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating loss uniformity that is obtained by an arrayed waveguide plating 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention and loss uniformity that is obtained in the related art;



FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a main portion of a modification of the embodiment; and



FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a main portion of another modification of the embodiment.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Next, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described on the basis of the drawings.


Embodiment


FIG. 1A illustrates the schematic configuration of an arrayed waveguide grating according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of an X portion of FIG. 1A.


As shown in FIG. 1A, an arrayed waveguide grating 10 is planar lightwave circuit (PLC) where an optical waveguide composed of a core and a clad is produced on a substrate (not shown in the drawings), such as a quartz substrate or a silicon substrate, using an optical fiber producing technology and a semiconductor fine processing technology.


The arrayed waveguide grating 10 comprises five input waveguides 111 to 115, an input slab waveguide 12 that is connected to the input waveguides 111 to 115, plural (n) output waveguides 131 to 13n, an output slab waveguide 14 that is connected to the output waveguides, and an arrayed waveguide 15 that is connected between the input slab waveguide 12 and the output slab waveguide 14. The number of input waveguides is not limited to five and may be at least one.


A loss variation in individual channels described above, that is, a loss variation between the individual output waveguides 131 to 13n of output waveguide numbers 1 to n (channel numbers 1ch to nch) is small in a central portion of an array of the output waveguides and is large in ends of the array, as shown by a curved line 20 of FIG. 2. Accordingly, in a normal case, it is considered that the loss of the ends of the array is decreased without changing the loss of the central portion of the array. However, in the arrayed waveguide grating 10 according to this embodiment, the loss of the ends, that is, the loss of the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array is not changed, the loss of the output waveguides that are close to the central side of the array is increased to be adapted to the loss in the output waveguides 131 and 13n, thereby the loss variation is decreased, and loss uniformity is improved. That is, the entire loss variation is made to be uniform to be adapted to the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides having the large loss.


For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1B, in the arrayed waveguide grating 10, gaps 172 to 17n-1 are formed in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array of the n output waveguides 131 to 13n, respectively, such that the loss increases toward the central side of the array. Specifically, sizes of the gaps 172 to 17n-1 increase toward the central side of the array, in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array.


A relationship between the gaps (waveguide gaps) provided in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 and the loss is shown in FIG. 3. It can be seen from a curved line 30 of FIG. 3 that the loss increases as the sizes of the gaps (waveguide gaps) provided in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 increase.


In the arrayed waveguide grating 10, if optical signals λ1 to λn where plural optical signals having different wavelengths are multiplexed are input to the central input waveguide 113 of the input waveguides 111 to 115, the optical signals λ1 to λn are diffused by diffraction in the input slab waveguide 12 and are input to the arrayed waveguide 15. Since the lengths of the individual waveguides of the arrayed waveguide 15 are different from each other by ΔL, a phase difference that depends on the wavelength is generated in an output end of the arrayed waveguide 15. In the output slab waveguide 14, since light of the individual wavelengths where the same phase condition is realized by multiple interference (strengthened mutually) is coupled with the corresponding output waveguides 131 to 13n demultiplexing (DEMUX) is made.


According to the embodiment that has the above configuration, the following function and effect are achieved. As described above, the gaps 172 to 17n-1 are formed in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array of the n output waveguides 131 to 13n, respectively. The sizes of the gaps 172 to 17n-1 increase toward the central side of the array, in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array. Thereby, the loss increases toward the central side of the array. As a result, as shown by a curved line 21 of FIG. 2, loss uniformity of the n output waveguides 131 to 13n is improved.


Since this method is not the method that improves the loss uniformity by increasing the free spectral range (FSR) of the arrayed waveguide grating 10, the circuit size does not increase.


Since the gaps 172 to 17n-1 can be easily formed in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array of the n output waveguides 131 to 13n using a semiconductor fine processing technology (photolithography), a manufacturing influence is small.


Example

As an example, an arrayed waveguide grating 10 (100 GHz and 40ch) where a refractive index contrast A is 0.8% and a core size is 6×6 μm2 is produced. Accordingly, the number of plural (n) output waveguides 131 to 13n is n=40. In the arrayed waveguide grating 10, the FRS is set to about 6500 GHz. In Table 1 described below, the sizes of the gaps in the output waveguides 131 to 13n (1ch to 40ch) are shown. As shown in Table 1, the sizes of the gaps are different from each other in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array.











TABLE 1







Gap size



















 1ch
0.000



 2ch
8.007



 3ch
11.089



 4ch
13.328



 5ch
15.111



 6ch
16.586



 7ch
17.830



 8ch
18.887



 9ch
19.787



10ch
20.553



11ch
21.200



12ch
21.741



13ch
22.187



14ch
22.548



15ch
22.831



16ch
23.045



17ch
23.198



18ch
23.296



19ch
23.350



20ch
23.370



21ch
23.370



22ch
23.350



23ch
23.297



24ch
23.198



25ch
23.045



26ch
22.831



27ch
22.548



28ch
22.187



29ch
21.741



30ch
21.200



31ch
20.553



32ch
19.788



33ch
18.887



34ch
17.830



35ch
16.587



36ch
15.111



37ch
13.328



38ch
11.089



39ch
8.007



40ch
0.000







(Unit: μm)






By the arrayed waveguide grating 10 according to this example, the loss uniformity that was 0.7 dB as shown by a curved line (b) of FIG. 4 is greatly improved to 0.25 dB as shown by a curved line (a) of FIG. 4.


The present invention can be changed as follows and specified.


In the above embodiment, the sizes of the gaps 172 to 17n-1 that are formed in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array of the n output waveguides 131 to 13n increase toward the central side of the array, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the sizes of the gaps that are formed in the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 13n of both sides of the array are set to the same size. In this case, in two waveguide portions 40 and 41 (refer to FIG. 5) of the individual output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 facing each other through the gaps, in an end of the emission-side waveguide portion 40 that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide 14, a tapered end 40a (refer to FIG. 5) where the core width of the emission-side waveguide portion 40 gradually decreases toward the end side thereof is formed. In addition, the mode field diameter of the tapered end 40a may be set to be smaller than the mode field diameter of the waveguide portion 41 and may be set to decrease toward the central side of the array.


According to this configuration, as the output waveguides come close to the central side, a diffusion angle based on diffraction increases and loss increases. As a result, loss uniformity of the n output waveguides 131 to 13n is improved.


In the embodiment, in the two waveguide portions 40 and 41 (refer to FIG. 5) of the individual output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 facing each other through the gaps, in the end of the emission-side waveguide portion 40 that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide 14, the tapered end 40a (refer to FIG. 5) may be formed; and the mode field diameter of the tapered end 40a may be set to decrease toward the central side of the array. According to this configuration, the sizes of the gaps of the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 are increased toward the central side of the array, and the mode field diameter of the tapered end 40a of the emission-side waveguide portion 40 is set to decrease toward the central side of the array, of the two waveguide portions 40 and 41 of the individual output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 facing each other through the gaps. By this combination, the loss uniformity of the plural output waveguides is further improved.


In the embodiment, the sizes of the gaps of the output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 other than the output waveguides 131 and 131, of both sides of the array may be set to the same size. In this case, in two waveguide portions 50 and 51 (refer to FIG. 6) of the individual output waveguides 132 to 13n-1 facing each other through the gaps, in an end of the emission-side waveguide portion 50 that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide 14, a tapered end 50a (refer to FIG. 6) where the core width of the emission-side waveguide portion 50 gradually increases toward the end side thereof is formed. In addition, the mode field diameter of the tapered end 50a may be set to be larger than the mode field diameter of the waveguide portion 51 and may be set to increase toward the outside of the array. According to this configuration, as the output waveguides come close to the outside, a diffusion angle based on diffraction decreases and loss decreases. As a result, loss uniformity of the n output waveguides 131 to 13n is improved.


In the above embodiment, the arrayed waveguide grating 10 that includes the five input waveguides 111 to 115 is exemplified, but the number of input waveguides is not limited to five. That is, the present invention can be applied to an arrayed waveguide grating that includes at least one input waveguide.

Claims
  • 1. An arrayed waveguide grating, comprising: at least one input waveguide;and input slab waveguide that is connected to the input waveguide;a plurality of output waveguides;an output slab waveguide that is connected to the output waveguides; andan arrayed waveguide that is connected between the input slab waveguide and the output slab waveguide,wherein gaps are formed in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of an array of the plurality of output waveguides, respectively, such that loss increases toward the central side of the array,wherein sizes of the gaps in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of the array are equal to each other,an end of an emission-side waveguide portion that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide of two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps, is formed with a tapered end where the core width of the emission-side waveguide portion gradually decreases toward the end side of the waveguide portion, anda mode field diameter of the tapered end is smaller than a mode field diameter of the another waveguide portion facing to the tapered end and decreases toward the central side of the array.
  • 2. An arrayed waveguide grating, comprising: at least one input waveguide;and input slab waveguide that is connected to the input waveguide;a plurality of output waveguides;an output slab waveguide that is connected to the output waveguides; andan arrayed waveguide that is connected between the input slab waveguide and the output slab waveguide,wherein gaps are formed in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of an array of the plurality of output waveguides, respectively, such that loss increases toward the central side of the array,wherein sizes of the gaps increase toward the central side of the array, in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of the array,wherein a mode field diameter of an end of an emission-side waveguide portion that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide of two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps decreases toward the central side of the array.
  • 3. An arrayed waveguide grating, comprising: at least one input waveguide;and input slab waveguide that is connected to the input waveguide;a plurality of output waveguides;an output slab waveguide that is connected to the output waveguides; andan arrayed waveguide that is connected between the input slab waveguide and the output slab waveguide,wherein gaps are formed in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of an array of the plurality of output waveguides, respectively, such that loss increases toward the central side of the array,wherein sizes of the gaps in the output waveguides other than at least the output waveguides of both sides of the array are equal to each other,an end of an emission-side waveguide portion that exists at the side of the output slab waveguide of two waveguide portions of the individual output waveguides facing each other through the gaps, is formed with a tapered end where the core width of the emission-side waveguide portion gradually increases toward the end side of the waveguide portion, and a mode field diameter of the tapered end is larger than a mode field diameter of the another waveguide portion facing to the tapered end and increases toward the outside of the array.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2008-193086 Jul 2008 JP national
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. Ser. No. 13/015,218, filed Jan. 27, 2011, herein incorporated by reference, which is a National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/JP09/063,330, filed Jul. 27, 2009, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-193086, filed Jul. 28, 2008.

Divisions (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 13015218 Jan 2011 US
Child 13722846 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent PCT/JP09/63330 Jul 2009 US
Child 13015218 US