Integrated optical latch

• US 7,715,663 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Carothers, Daniel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): PENG, CHARLIE YU
• Application Number:
  US12/201,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 385 82- 85, 385/87, 385/15, 385/16, 385/24, 385/37, 385/31, 385/3, 385/32, 385/40, 398/79
• US Class Current: 385/3
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/211 Sagnac type
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/225 in an optical waveguide structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/3519 of Sagnac type, i.e. nonlinear optical loop mirror [NOLM]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/15 involving resonance effects, e.g. resonantly enhanced interaction

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for optical switching and data control, without the interaction of electronic switching speeds. In one example embodiment, a common cavity optical latch is provided that that can hold an optical state for an extended period of time, and the operation of which is controlled optically. Optical phase control allows optical modal switching to be employed between two common optical cavities, using incident optical signals and the way in which the cavities manipulate the phase within them to lock in one or the other configuration, thereby forming an optical latch. The optical latch is implemented in an integrated fashion, such as in a CMOS environment.

Claims

1. An integrated optical circuit device, comprising:

a first integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the first integrated waveguide loop, wherein the nonlinear phase shifting element includes one or more tunable couplers configured with salicide heating elements for optically coupling resonant elements to the first integrated waveguide loop;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the first integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the first integrated waveguide loop.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first integrated waveguide loop is a high index contrast (HIC) silicon waveguide.

3. The device of claim 1 further wherein the first integrated waveguide loop is configured with an inner ring and an outer ring optically coupled to the inner ring, and the nonlinear phase shifting element is in the inner ring.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the second integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the second integrated waveguide loop.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the second integrated waveguide loop is a high index contrast (HIC) silicon waveguide.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop includes n individually tunable resonant elements.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop includes a salicide heater structure for providing heat to the n individually tunable resonant elements.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein the nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop includes one or more tunable couplers configured with salicide heating elements for optically coupling resonant elements to the second integrated waveguide loop.

9. The device of claim 4 further wherein the second integrated waveguide loop is configured with an inner ring and an outer ring optically coupled to the inner ring, and nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop is in the inner ring.

10. An integrated optical circuit device, comprising:

a first integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the first integrated waveguide loop, wherein the nonlinear phase shifting element includes n individually tunable resonant elements and a salicide heater structure for providing heat to the n individually tunable resonant elements;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the first integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the first integrated waveguide loop.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

a second integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the second integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the second integrated waveguide loop.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the first integrated waveguide loop is configured with an inner ring and an outer ring optically coupled to the inner ring, and the nonlinear phase shifting element is in the inner ring.

13. An integrated optical circuit device, comprising:

a first a nonlinear interferometer optical comparator comprising;

a first integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the first integrated waveguide loop;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the first integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the first integrated waveguide loop;

a second a nonlinear interferometer optical comparator operatively coupled to the first nonlinear interferometer optical comparator, comprising;

a second integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the second integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the second integrated waveguide loop;

wherein each of the nonlinear phase shifting elements includes one or more salicide heater structures.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein each of the first and second integrated waveguide loops is a high index contrast (HIC) silicon waveguide.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein each of the nonlinear phase shifting elements includes n individually tunable resonant elements.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein each of the nonlinear phase shifting elements includes a plurality of salicide heater structures.

17. The device of claim 13 further wherein each of the first and second integrated waveguide loops is configured with an inner ring and an outer ring optically coupled to the inner ring, and each of the nonlinear phase shifting elements is in the inner ring.

18. An integrated optical circuit device, comprising:

a first a nonlinear interferometer optical comparator comprising;

a first integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the first integrated waveguide loop;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the first integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the first integrated waveguide loop;

a second a nonlinear interferometer optical comparator operatively coupled to the first nonlinear interferometer optical comparator, comprising;

a second integrated waveguide loop for guiding optical signals;

a nonlinear phase shifting element for phase shifting signals in the second integrated waveguide loop;

a tunable coupler for providing an input pulse in both clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of the second integrated waveguide loop; and

an input coupler for providing a control pulse in at least one direction of the second integrated waveguide loop;

wherein each of the first and second integrated waveguide loops is a high index contrast (HIC) silicon waveguide, and each of the nonlinear phase shifting elements includes n individually tunable resonant elements and one or more salicide heater structures.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein each of the nonlinear phase shifting elements includes a plurality of salicide heater structures.

20. The device of claim 18 further wherein each of the first and second integrated waveguide loops is configured with an inner ring and an outer ring optically coupled to the inner ring, and each of the nonlinear phase shifting elements is in the inner ring.