DUAL COUPLER DEVICE, SPECTROMETER INCLUDING THE DUAL COUPLER DEVICE, AND NON-INVASIVE BIOMETRIC SENSOR INCLUDING THE SPECTROMETER

• US 20160238447A1
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMEC International, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: IMEC International, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CLAES, Tom, CHO, Seongho, KIM, Dongho
• Granted Patent: US 10,466,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1291 polarised, birefringent
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/021 using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0224 using polarising or depolarising elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/18 using diffraction elements, e.g. grating gratings per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/1895 using fiber Bragg gratings or gratings integrated in a waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/26 using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/47 Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence G01N21/55 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0612 Laser diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0683 Brewster plate; polarisation controlling elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 Optical fibres; light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/105 having optical polarisation effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/124 Geodesic lenses or integrated gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2726 : in or on light guides, e.g. polarisation means assembled in a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/34 : utilising prism or grating G02B6/293 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided are a dual coupler device configured to receive lights of different polarization components, a spectrometer including the dual coupler device, and a non-invasive biometric sensor including the spectrometer. The dual coupler device may include, for example, a first coupler layer configured to receive a light of a first polarization component among incident lights. and a second coupler layer configured to receive a light of a second polarization component among the incident lights, wherein a polarization direction of the light of the first polarization component is perpendicular to a polarization direction of the light of the second polarization component. The first coupler layer and the second coupler layer may be spaced apart from each other and extended along a direction in which the light propagates in the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer.

Claims

1. A dual coupler device comprising:

a first coupler layer configured to receive a light of a first polarization component among incident lights; and

a second coupler layer configured to receive a light of a second polarization component among the incident lights,

wherein a polarization direction of the light of the first polarization component is perpendicular to a polarization direction of the light of the second polarization component, and

wherein the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer are spaced apart from each other and extended along a direction in which the incident lights propagate in the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer.

2. The dual coupler device of claim 1, wherein the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer are parallel to and face each other.

3. The dual coupler device of claim 1, further comprising a transparent dielectric layer in which the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer are buried,

wherein the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer have a refractive index that is higher than a refractive index of the transparent dielectric layer.

4. The dual coupler device of claim 1, wherein each of the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer comprises a grating-type coupler having a periodic grating structure.

5. The dual coupler device of claim 4, wherein the periodic grating structure of the first coupler layer is configured to have selectivity with respect to the light of the first polarization component, and the periodic grating structure of the second coupler layer is configured to have selectivity with respect to the light of the second polarization component.

6. The dual coupler device of claim 4, wherein the periodic grating structure of the first coupler layer is configured to have selectivity with respect to a light of a first wavelength band, and the periodic grating structure of the second coupler layer is configured to have selectivity with respect to a light of a second wavelength band that overlaps at least partially with the first wavelength band.

7. The dual coupler device of claim 6, wherein the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band are substantially identical to each other.

8. The dual coupler device of claim 1, further comprising a reflector configured to reflect light, which passes through the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer among the incident lights, towards the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer.

9. The dual coupler device of claim 8, wherein the reflector is disposed apart from the first coupler layer by a first distance that creates destructive interference with the light of the second polarization component and constructive interference with the light of the first polarization component in the first coupler layer, and disposed apart from the second coupler layer by a second distance that creates destructive interference with the light of the first polarization component and constructive interference with the light of the second polarization component in the second coupler layer.

10. A spectrometer comprising:

a first coupler layer configured to receive a light of a first polarization component among incident lights;

a second coupler layer configured to receive a light of a second polarization component among the incident lights; and

a photodetector configured to detect the light received by each of the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer,

wherein a polarization direction of the light of the first polarization component is perpendicular to a polarization direction of the light of the second polarization component, and

wherein the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer are spaced apart from each other and extended along a direction in which the incident lights propagate in the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer.

11. The spectrometer of claim 10, wherein the first coupler layer comprises:

a first input coupler configured to selectively couple the light of the first polarization component;

a first waveguide along which the light of the first polarization component coupled by the first input coupler propagates;

a first resonator configured to resonate the light of the first polarization component coupled by the first input coupler; and

a first output coupler configured to output the light of the first polarization component resonated by the first resonator to the photodetector, and

the second coupler layer comprises;

a second input coupler configured to selectively couple the light of the second polarization component;

a second waveguide along which the light of the second polarization component coupled by the second input coupler propagates;

a second resonator configured to resonate the light of the second polarization component coupled by the second input coupler; and

a second output coupler configured to output the light of the second polarization component resonated by the second resonator to the photodetector.

12. The spectrometer of claim 11, wherein the first coupler layer comprises at least two first resonators configured to resonate lights of different wavelengths respectively, and the second coupler layer comprises at least two second resonators configured to resonate lights of different wavelengths respectively.

13. The spectrometer of claim 12, wherein one of the at least two first resonators of the first coupler layer and one of the at least two second resonators of the second coupler layer are configured to resonate lights of substantially the same wavelength.

14. The spectrometer of claim 12, wherein the first coupler layer comprises at least two first input couplers configured to selectively couple lights of different wavelengths respectively, and the second coupler layer comprises at least two second input couplers configured to selectively couple lights of different wavelengths respectively.

15. The spectrometer of claim 12, wherein the first input coupler is optically connected to the at least two first resonators, and the second input coupler is optically connected to the at least two second resonators.

16. The spectrometer of claim 12, wherein the first coupler layer comprises at least two first waveguides optically connected to the at least two first resonators respectively, and the second coupler layer comprises at least two second waveguides optically connected to the at least two second resonators respectively.

17. The spectrometer of claim 11, wherein the first output coupler and the second output coupler are disposed respectively at positions that do not overlap with each other in a light propagation direction in the first waveguide and the second waveguide.

18. The spectrometer of claim 11, further comprising a first reflector disposed to face the first input coupler and the second input coupler and configured to reflect light, which passes through the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer among the incident lights, towards the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer.

19. The spectrometer of claim 18, wherein the first reflector is disposed apart from the first coupler layer by a first distance that creates destructive interference with the light of the second polarization component and constructive interference with the light of the first polarization component in the first input coupler, and disposed apart from the second coupler layer by a second distance that creates destructive interference with the light of the first polarization component and constructive interference with the light of the second polarization component in the second input coupler.

20. The spectrometer of claim 18, further comprising a second reflector disposed to face the first output coupler and the second output coupler and configured to reflect the light, which is output from the first output coupler and the second output coupler, to the photodetector.

21. A non-invasive biometric sensor comprising:

a light source configured to radiate an excitation light to an object; and

a spectrometer configured to measure a spectrum distribution of a scattered light generated from the object by the excitation light,

the spectrometer comprising;

a first coupler layer configured to receive a light of a first polarization component among incident lights;

a second coupler layer configured to receive a light of a second polarization component among the incident lights; and

a photodetector configured to detect the light received by each of the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer,

wherein a polarization direction of the light of the first polarization component is perpendicular to a polarization direction of the light of the second polarization component, and

wherein the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer are spaced apart from each other and extended along a direction in which the incident lights propagate in the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer.

22. A spectrometer comprising:

a first coupler layer configured to receive light of a p-polarization component through a first input coupler;

a second coupler layer that is configured to receive light of an s-polarization component through a second input coupler and disposed to be apart from the first coupler layer in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the light of the p-polarization component and the light of the s-polarization component propagate in the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer, respectively; and

a reflector that is disposed to be apart from the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer in the first direction, aligned with the first input coupler and the second input coupler in the second direction, and configured to bounce off light incident from the first coupler input and the second input coupler back to the first input coupler and the second input coupler.

23. The spectrometer of claim 22, wherein the first coupler layer propagates the light of the p-polarization component towards a first output coupler disposed on the first coupler layer,

the second coupler layer propagates the light of the s-polarization component towards a second output coupler disposed on the second coupler layer, and

the first output coupler is disposed out of alignment with the second output coupler in the second direction.

24. The spectrometer of claim 23, further comprising another reflector that is disposed to be apart from the first coupler layer and the second coupler layer in the first direction and is aligned to bounce off light incident from the first output coupler and the second output coupler back to the first output coupler and the second output coupler.