Tunable detector

• US 8,599,897 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cox, James A., Morgan, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAYADIAN, HRAYR
• Application Number:
  US10/948,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,357 Days
• Field of Search: 372/99
• US Class Current: 372/99
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 2301/163 Single longitudinal mode
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18308 having a special structure for lateral current or light confinement
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18319 comprising a periodical structure in lateral directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18355 having a defined polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18358 containing spacer layers to adjust the phase of the light wave in the cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18369 based on dielectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18377 comprising layers of different kind of materials, e.g. combinations of semiconducting with dielectric or metallic layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18386 Details of the emission surface for influencing the near- or far-field, e.g. a grating on the surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/18388 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4087 emitting more than one wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity

Abstract

This disclosure is generally concerned with optical systems that employ guided-mode grating resonant reflector filters (“GMGRF”) to facilitate wavelength and/or polarization selectivity in the optical system. In one example, an optical system is provided that includes first and second tunable detectors. Each of the tunable detectors includes a GMGRF that is tuned to select a corresponding optical wavelength and/or polarization of an optical data channel, such that the optical wavelength and/or polarization associated with the first tunable detector is different from the optical wavelength and/or polarization associated with the second tunable detector. In this way, an array of tunable detectors can be employed to select some or all of the wavelengths and/or polarizations of an optical data signal having a plurality of data channels.

Claims

1. An optical system, comprising:

a first tunable detector; and

a second tunable detector, each of the first and second tunable detectors including a guided-mode grating resonant reflector filter (“

GMGRF”

) configured such that the GMGRF for the first tunable detector is tuned to select a first optical wavelength and/or polarization, and the GMGRF for the second tunable detector is tuned to select a second optical wavelength and/or polarization.

2. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second tunable detectors comprises a resonant cavity photo detector (“

RCPD”

).

3. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second tunable detectors each comprise an optoelectronic receiver.

4. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the GMGRFs comprises a waveguide and a grating.

5. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the GMGRFs comprises a core layer and grating layer positioned adjacent each other.

6. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein tuning of at least one of the GMGRFs is based at least in part upon a selected value of at least one GMGRF parameter.

7. The optical system as recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one GMGRF parameter comprises at least one of:

a grating period;

a grating height;

a core thickness; and

, a grating direction.

8. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second tunable detectors are configured for optical communication with an optical fiber.

9. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second tunable detectors are fabricated on a common substrate.

10. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second tunable detectors further comprises:

a top mirror; and

a bottom mirror, the corresponding GMGRF being positioned adjacent one of the top or bottom mirrors.

11. The optical system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second tunable detectors further comprises:

a top mirror; and

a bottom mirror, the corresponding GMGRF being incorporated into one of the top or bottom mirrors.

12. An optical system, comprising:

a first optoelectronic receiver; and

a second optoelectronic receiver, each of the first and second optoelectronic receivers including;

a guided-mode grating resonant reflector filter (“

GMGRF”

) configured such that the GMGRF for the first optoelectronic receiver is tuned to select a first optical wavelength and/or polarization and the GMGRF for the second optoelectronic receiver is tuned to select a second optical wavelength and/or polarization;

a top mirror; and

a bottom mirror, the GMGRF being positioned adjacent one of the top and bottom mirrors.

13. The optical system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second optoelectronic receivers comprises a resonant cavity photo detector (“

RCPD”

).

14. The optical system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the GMGRFs comprises a core layer and a grating layer positioned adjacent each other.

15. The optical system as recited in claim 14, wherein the grating layer extends into the core layer.

16. The optical system as recited in claim 14, wherein the core layer defines a core thickness, and the grating layer defines a grating period, a grating height and, a grating direction.

17. The optical system as recited in claim 12, wherein tuning of at least one of the optoelectronic receivers is facilitated by setting and/or adjusting at least one of:

a core thickness;

a grating period;

a grating direction; and

, a grating height.

18. The optical system as recited in claim 12, wherein the first and second optoelectronic receivers are monolithically formed on a common substrate.

19. The optical system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the mirrors comprises a plurality of DBR layers.

20. The optical system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the optoelectronic receivers is configured to be operated in a reverse bias mode.

21. The optical system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of the optoelectronic receivers is tuned to select a plurality of wavelengths and/or polarizations.