Tunable-wavelength optical filter and method of manufacturing the same

• US 7,163,872 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Choi, Chang Auck, Lee, Myung Lae, Jun, Chi Hoon, Kim, Youn Tae, Kim, Chang Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): MENZ, LAURA MARY
• Application Number:
  US10/671,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 438/455, 438/456, 438/457, 359/578, 359/577
• US Class Current: 438/455
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/26 using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0833 comprising inorganic materials only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29361 Interference filters, e.g. multilayer coatings, thin film filters, dichroic splitters or mirrors based on multilayers, WDM filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29389 Bandpass filtering, e.g. 1x1 device rejecting or passing certain wavelengths G02B6/2938 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29395 configurable, e.g. tunable or reconfigurable switching G02B6/35

Abstract

An active type tunable wavelength optical filter having a Fabry-Perot structure is disclosed. A tunable wavelength optical filter which comprises a lower mirror in which silicon films and oxide films are sequentially laminated in a multi-layer and the silicon film is laminated on the highest portion; an upper mirror in which silicon films and oxide films are sequentially laminated in a multi-layer and the silicon film is laminated on the highest portion and which is spaced away from the lower mirror by a predetermined distance; a connecting means for connecting and supporting the lower mirror and the upper mirror to a semiconductor substrate; and electrode pads for controlling the gap between the lower mirror and the upper mirror by an electrostatic force and the method of manufacturing the same are provided. Thereby, by finely driving the upper and lower mirrors composed of a multi-layer structure of the silicon film and the oxide film by the electrostatic force, the wavelength of the transmitted light with respect to the incident light can be selectively sent.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a tunable wavelength optical filter, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a sacrificial oxide film for floating a mirror on a semiconductor substrate;

(b) sequentially laminating conductive silicon films and oxide films for defining a mirror region on said sacrificial oxide film in a multi-layer and laminating another conductive silicon film to form a mirror;

(c) etching the rear side of said semiconductor substrate to form an opening for inserting an optical fiber thereinto;

(d) forming electrode pads for controlling the gap between the mirrors by an electrostatic force;

(e) etching the silicon film around said mirror in a dry etching method to expose said sacrificial oxide film, such that said mirror is suspended by a connecting means; and

(f) etching said sacrificial oxide film with hydrogen fluoride such that said mirror is floated on said semiconductor substrate;

wherein two semiconductor substrate formed by said steps (a) to (f) are prepared and are attached to each other through a spacer layer therebetween so that the mirrors of said semiconductor substrates are opposite to each other.

2. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 1, wherein said sacrificial oxide film is etched by a wet etching method using a hydrogen fluoride solution or a gas phase etching method using anhydrous hydrogen fluoride which the etching speed of the sacrificial oxide film is quicker than that of the silicon film.

3. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 1, wherein said silicon film is formed so as to have a thickness of(2m+1) λ

/4n (m=0, 1, 2, . . . ),

wherein λ

is the wavelength of the light source, and n is the optical refractive index of the silicon film.

4. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 1, wherein said oxide film is formed so as to have a thickness of(2m+1) λ

/4n(m=0, 1, 2, . . . ),

wherein λ

is the wavelength of the light source, and n is the optical refractive index of the oxide film.

5. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming thermal oxide films on the both sides of the semiconductor substrate, before forming said sacrificial oxide film.

6. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 1, said the step (b) comprises the steps of:

depositing a first conductive silicon film on said sacrificial oxide film,

depositing a first oxide film on said first silicon film and patterning the first oxide film to define a mirror region;

depositing a second silicon film on said first silicon film and said patterned first oxide film;

depositing a second oxide film on said second silicon film and patterning the second oxide film to define the mirror region;

forming a third conductive silicon film on said second silicon film and said patterned second oxide film.

7. A method of manufacturing a tunable wavelength optical filter, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a sacrificial oxide film for floating a mirror on a semiconductor substrate;

(b) sequentially laminating conductive silicon films and oxide films for defining a mirror region on said sacrificial oxide film in a multi-layer and laminating another conductive silicon film to form a mirror;

(c) depositing a first conductive silicon film on said sacrificial oxide film,

(d) depositing a first oxide film on said first silicon film and patterning the first oxide film to define a mirror region;

(e) depositing a second silicon film on said first silicon film and said patterned first oxide film;

(f) depositing a second oxide film on said second silicon film and patterning the second oxide film to define the mirror region;

(g) forming a third conductive silicon film on said second silicon film and said patterned second oxide film;

(h) etching the rear side of said semiconductor substrate to form an opening for inserting an optical fiber thereinto;

(i) forming electrode pads for controlling the gap between the mirrors by an electrostatic force;

(j) etching the silicon film around said mirror in a dry etching method to expose said sacrificial oxide film, such that said mirror is suspended by a connecting means; and

(k) etching said sacrificial oxide film such that said mirror is floated on said semiconductor substrate;

wherein two semiconductor substrate formed by said steps (a) to (k) are prepared and are attached to each other through a spacer layer therebetween so that the mirrors of said semiconductor substrates are opposite to each other.

8. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 7, wherein said sacrificial oxide film is etched by a wet etching method using a hydrogen fluoride solution or a gas phase etching method using anhydrous hydrogen fluoride which the etching speed of the sacrificial oxide film is quicker than that of the silicon film.

9. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 7, wherein said silicon film is formed so as to have a thickness of(2m+1) λ

/4n (m=0, 1, 2, . . . ),

wherein λ

is the wavelength of the light source, and n is the optical refractive index of the silicon film.

10. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 7, wherein said oxide film is formed so as to have a thickness of(2m+1) λ

/4n (m=0, 1, 2, . . . ),

wherein λ

is the wavelength of the light source, and n is the optical refractive index of the oxide film.

11. The method of manufacturing the tunable wavelength optical filter according to claim 7, further comprising the step of forming thermal oxide films on the both sides of the semiconductor substrate, before forming said sacrificial oxide film.