Abstract:
The invention relates to a planar optical circuit having a waveguide structure and at least one monolithic or hybrid integrated optical component. A mechanism for influencing the propagation of scattered light in the planar optical circuit in a targeted manner is employed and integrated into the planar optical circuit. The disadvantageous effects of scattered light are reduced in that scattered light is captured, absorbed, reflected or concentrated onto a narrow region by means of the integrated structures.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the priority date of German application DE 102 53 440.3, filed on Nov. 12, 2002, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to optical components, and more particularly to a planar optical circuit.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is known for optical components to be integrated into a planar optical circuit in monolithic or hybrid fashion. Examples of the components are optical phased arrays (AWG—arrayed waveguide grating), variable attenuator units (VOA—variable optical attenuator) and power monitoring devices (PM—power monitor) which detect the optical power in an optical waveguide of the planar optical circuit. Optical phased arrays are used in particular as wavelength division multiplexers and demultiplexers in WDM (wavelength division multiplex) and DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplex) based transmission links. Variable attenuator units make it possible to perform a channel-dependent attenuation of the levels of individual data channels of an array. Different levels of the optical channels can be equalized by means of the channel-dependent attenuation. Power monitoring is realized by means of photodiodes and serves for monitoring the signal powers in individual waveguides.  
           [0004]    An ever present problem in planar optical circuits is the existence of undesirable scattered light. Scattered light arises for example in variable attenuator units, as is explained below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. An attenuator unit is realized for example by a Mach-Zehnder interferometer  100 . A Mach-Zehnder interferometer  100  has an input waveguide  101  having an input power Pin, an input port  102 , a first arm  103 , a second arm  104 , an output port  105  and an output waveguide  106  having the output power Pout. A heating element  110  is situated on one arm  103  of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer  100 . Heating of the heating element changes the temperature in the corresponding arm  103  and the refractive index thereof. This results in a phase difference between the signals of the two arms  103 ,  104 , which leads to a change in the output power P out .  
           [0005]    Provided that there is no phase difference between the two arms  103 ,  104 , the output power P out  reaches a maximum, while the output power P out  is at a minimum given a phase difference of π. As soon as a phase difference occurs between the two arms  103 ,  104 , a part of the light is in this case emitted or radiated from the optical waveguide. The emission of light is at a maximum given a phase difference of π.  
           [0006]    The situation is then such that the emitted light is hardly absorbed by the light-guiding substrate of the planar optical circuit. Rather, the majority of the scattered light propagates arbitrarily in the substrate. FIG. 10 shows the simulation result for the field distribution in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in accordance with FIG. 9, the phase difference between the two arms  103 ,  104  being π. The scattered light X propagates essentially conically proceeding from the output port  105 , that is to say the confluence region of the two waveguide arms  103 ,  104 . In this case, the intensity of the scattered light X is greatest in the vicinity of the output waveguide  106  and decreases with increasing distance from the output waveguide  106 .  
           [0007]    The scattered light X illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 10 poses a problem from a number of standpoints. Firstly, it disturbs the function of photodiodes which are mounted in trenches or cutouts of the substrate and, by way of example, perform power monitoring of the optical signals of individual waveguides. The disturbance signal may reach the level of the useful signal in this case. A further problem is that the emitted scattered light may couple into adjacent channels and thus generates an undesired crosstalk.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is accordingly based on the object of providing a planar optical circuit in which the disadvantages that arise with scattered light are reduced.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, the solution according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that means which influence the propagation of scattered light in the planar optical circuit in a targeted manner are integrated into the planar optical circuit. In this case, the invention is based on the concept of reducing the disadvantageous effects of scattered light not by downstream signal processing, for instance, but rather by means which are integrated in the planar optical circuit itself and influence the propagation of scattered light that is present, the scattered light being either captured, absorbed, reflected or concentrated onto a narrow region, so that possible adjacent channels are not disturbed. The scattered light can also be guided into regions of the planar optical circuit where it does not manifest a disturbing effect, and/or be detected in a defined manner.  
           [0010]    The influencing of the propagation of the scattered light in the planar optical circuit may take the form, for example, of capture and/or deflection of the scattered light, absorption or diversion, it also being possible for a combination of these influencing mechanisms to be effected.  
           [0011]    By its nature, the scattered light that propagates in a planar optical circuit propagates in the plane in which the light-guiding structures are formed. The integrated means which influence the propagation of scattered light that is present are likewise formed at least partially in said plane.  
           [0012]    In a preferred refinement of the invention, capture and deflection of scattered light is effected by an additional waveguide, one end of which is arranged in the vicinity of a scattered light source of the planar optical circuit. The scattered light is captured by the additional waveguide at its source, deflected by the additional waveguide and, at that end of the additional waveguide which is remote from the scattered light source, by way of example, led out laterally from the planar optical circuit, absorbed or detected in a defined manner, as will be explained below.  
           [0013]    Preferably, at least one Mach-Zehnder interferometer with an input port and an output port is provided as a scattered light-generating optical component, the additional waveguide being arranged in the vicinity of the output port of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Preferably, an additional waveguide is arranged in a symmetrical arrangement in the region of the output port on both sides of the output waveguide of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer.  
           [0014]    The additional waveguide may run in a bent or S-shaped fashion. It has, by way of example, a first, straight region, through which scattered light is coupled in and which preferably runs essentially parallel to an adjacent waveguide. The additional waveguide also has an S-shaped region, which adjoins the first straight region and via which the coupled-in scattered light is guided away.  
           [0015]    In a preferred refinement, it is provided that the end of the additional waveguide which is remote from the scattered light source is in each case terminated by a photodiode, so that the light power of the scattered light can be detected. Preferably, the photodiode is in each case connected to an evaluation unit, which, by means of the detected scattered light, indirectly determines the optical power of the signal at the output of the optical component generating scattered light. This enables the power of a waveguide to be monitored without light being coupled out separately from the waveguide.  
           [0016]    In a further preferred refinement of the invention, the means for influencing the propagation of scattered light in the planar optical circuit is formed by a scattered light-absorbing structure, which, in particular, is an elongate trench or some, other cutout in the planar optical circuit. In this case, for the purpose of scattered light absorption, the trench is preferably filled with an absorbent substance, for example iron-containing liquids or polymers with color pigments which can be cured thermally or by UV light.  
           [0017]    Instead of absorbing structures, it is also possible as an alternative to use reflecting structures, which are preferably likewise formed by a trench in the planar optical circuit. In this case, the trenches are preferably arranged in such a way with regard to a scattered light source that the scattered light is subjected to total reflection at the light trenches.  
           [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of trenches are arranged parallel to one another, a waveguide in each case running between two trenches. The waveguide preferably originates in each case from a scattered light-emitting optical component, in particular a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The radiated scattered light is in each case prevented from coupling into an adjacent waveguide through the trenches running parallel. In addition, it may be provided that the region between two trenches is in each case assigned at least one scattered light-detecting photodiode for power monitoring.  
           [0019]    A further preferred refinement of the present invention provides for reflecting structures to be realized at a cutout in the planar optical circuit, which terminates a waveguide of the planar circuit and in which, by way of example, a photodiode is arranged. Such a photodiode serves for example for the power monitoring of a channel from a multiplicity of wavelength channels of the planar optical circuit. Such cutouts with photodiodes for power monitoring are known per se. One problem, however, is that the cross section of the photodiodes is in the region of a few hundred μm. The cross section of an individual waveguide, however, is generally only a few μm, typically 6 μm×6 μm. This has the effect that a photodiode detects not only the optical signal from the waveguide cross section but also scattered light in the region of the waveguide. Forming a reflecting structure at the cutout ensures that scattered light is reflected away from the cutout and, accordingly, does not reach the photodiode. For this purpose, it is preferably provided that the cutout tapers symmetrically in the direction of the waveguide and, in this case, in particular has two side walls running obliquely toward one another. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    The invention is explained in more detail below using a plurality of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures of the drawing, in which:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with two additional waveguides for capturing and diverting scattered light,  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with two additional waveguides, the additional waveguides being formed in S-shaped fashion,  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with two additional waveguides, the field distribution in the region of the additional waveguides being diagrammatically illustrated,  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows the relative scattered light intensity as a function of the distance from the output waveguide on the one hand with the use of additional waveguides for scattered light reduction and on the other hand without the use of such additional waveguides,  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows an array of Mach-Zehnder interferometers and waveguides in which the individual waveguides are in each case insulated from one another with regard to scattered light by means of absorbing trenches,  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows an array of Mach-Zehnder interferometers and waveguides, the individual waveguides in each case being insulated from one another with regard to scattered light by means of reflecting trenches,  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows in plan view a detail from a planar optical circuit in which a waveguide serving for power monitoring is terminated in a trench with scattered light-reflecting side areas,  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an integrated optical chip, photodiodes being arranged on a submount and the latter being placed upside down onto the integrated optical chip,  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows a Mach-Zehnder interferometer known from the prior art, and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 shows a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with an illustration of the scattered light that arises in the output region. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 shows a Mach-Zehnder interferometer as has already been described per se in the introduction with reference to FIG. 9. Two additional waveguides  1 ,  2  are formed in the planar optical substrate in the region of the output port  105  of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer  100 . The two additional waveguides  1 ,  2  are arranged symmetrically with respect to the output waveguide  106  of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. They each have a first, straight section  1   a ,  2   a , which runs essentially parallel to the output waveguide  106  and the end of which lies in the vicinity of the scattered light source, that is to say in the vicinity of the output port  105 , in which the light signals of the two waveguide arms  103 ,  104  converge. The first, straight region  1   a ,  2   a  is adjoined by an angled region  1   b ,  2   b , through which scattered light coupled into the additional waveguide  1 ,  2  is guided away from the output waveguide  106 . The angled region  1   b ,  2   b  guides the scattered light for example to an edge area of the planar optical circuit or into a region in which it is absorbed.  
         [0032]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the scattered light detected by the additional waveguide  1 ,  2  is in each case fed to a photodiode  31 ,  32 , which terminates the respective additional optical waveguide  1 ,  2 . The photodiode signal registers the scattered light X in this case. Since this is related to the optical signal of the output waveguide P out  and of the input waveguide P in  approximately in accordance with the formula: P out =P in −2 X, it is possible, given knowledge of the variable P in , to determine from the detected scattered light signal the power P out  in the output waveguide  106  and thus also the degree of attenuation effected. Corresponding evaluation is effected by a diagrammatically illustrated evaluation unit  4  connected to the two photodiodes  31 ,  32 . Thus, with such an arrangement, the detected and derived scattered light can be used to indirectly determine the optical power in the output waveguide  106 . A separate arrangement for monitoring the optical power of the individual waveguide channels may then advantageously be dispensed with.  
         [0033]    It may also be provided that the evaluation unit  4  is part of a control loop which sets the heating power of the heating element  110  to a desired value, i.e. a desired signal attenuation and output power P out .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 shows a concrete configuration of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1. There are once again two waveguides  1 ′,  2 ′ situated in the vicinity of the output port  105  of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer, said waveguides each comprising a straight part  1   a ′,  2   a ′ and an S-shaped part  1   b ′,  2   b ′. The scattered light is captured by the straight parts  1   a ′,  2   a ′ and guided to a defined location through the S-shaped parts  2   a ′,  2   b ′. The width of the two additional waveguides  1 ′,  2 ′ is 20 μm, for example, the length of the straight part  1   a ′,  2   a ′ is 200 μm, for example, and the distance d between the straight part  1   a ′,  2   a ′ of the additional waveguide and the output waveguide  106  of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer  100  is 7 μm, for example. In this case, the distance d is chosen to be large enough to largely prevent light that is guided in the output waveguide  106  from coupling out into the additional waveguide  1 ′,  2 ′.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 shows the result of a simulation of the field distribution in a structure with two additional waveguides  1 ,  2  in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2. The two additional waveguides  1 ,  2  are also illustrated in this case. The parameters are the same as those of the simulation of FIG. 10 explained in the introduction. It can clearly be seen that the scattered light X is concentrated in the vicinity of the additional waveguides  1 ,  2 . The field strength of the scattered light X is greatly reduced at other locations.  
         [0036]    This result is also reflected in the curves of FIG. 4, which illustrate the relative intensity of the scattered light as a function of the distance from the output waveguide of a normal Mach-Zehnder interferometer and of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with two additional waveguides. The curve  41  depicted somewhat thicker shows the scattered light field distribution in the case of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer without additional waveguides. The scattered light is at a maximum adjacent to the output waveguide  106  and decreases continuously with increasing distance Y from the output waveguide. The curve  42  depicted somewhat thinner indicates the relative scattered light intensity with the use of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with two additional waveguides. The additional waveguides make it possible to reduce the intensity of the scattered light in the vicinity of the output waveguide  106  by −30 dBm, that is to say a factor of 1 000. The respective lateral region characterized by alternate maxima and minima corresponds to the position of the respective additional waveguide. The scattered light is thus successfully concentrated in the region of the additional waveguides and can be captured and diverted by the latter.  
         [0037]    The influence of the two additional waveguides on the optical loss of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer at zero attenuation was additionally calculated. The additional loss on account of light being additionally coupled out into the additional waveguide is merely 0.1 dB.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 illustrates a multi-channel attenuator comprising an array of Mach-Zehnder interferometers  100 . There is the problem that each attenuator  100  emits a scattered light cone when it is activated, as explained in the introduction with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In an array of attenuators  100 , there is the particular problem that the scattered light of one channel can couple into an adjacent channel and thus produce an undesired crosstalk.  
         [0039]    Furthermore, thought is to be given, as explained with reference to FIG. 1, to utilizing the scattered light cone of each channel for the purpose of power monitoring as well, by the optical output power of the attenuator being measured indirectly by means of an integrated photodiode  3  in the scattered light cone of each channel. However, this is only practically possible if the scattered light of the adjacent channels in each case does not reach the photodiode  3 .  
         [0040]    In order to insulate the individual output waveguides  106  or wavelength channels with regard to their scattered light, in accordance with FIG. 5, it is provided that trenches  5  are introduced into the waveguide layer. The trenches  5  can be introduced into the waveguide layer for example by means of etching technology. The trenches prevent the undisturbed propagation of the scattered light and lead to a desired insulation of the individual waveguide channels  106  with regard to the scattered light that respectively arises.  
         [0041]    This effect is intensified if, as is preferably provided, light-absorbing substances  6  are filled into the trenches. Examples of the light-absorbing substances  6  are iron-containing liquids or polymers with color pigments which can be cured thermally or by UV light, so that they can easily be introduced into the trenches  5 . In this way, the individual trenches  5  are ideally insulated with respect to one another, with the result that a crosstalk brought about by scattered light is prevented and, as illustrated, it is even possible for photodiodes  3  optionally to be integrated into the individual locally concentrated scattered light regions of each attenuator  100 .  
         [0042]    It is pointed out here that, in principle, it is also possible, in addition, to use additional waveguides in accordance with FIGS.  1 - 3  in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5. This is not absolutely necessary, however, given a suitable arrangement of the photodiode  3 .  
         [0043]    It is further pointed out that, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, only one photodiode  3  in each case is arranged on each side of an output waveguide  106 . Since the scattered light essentially has the same intensity on both sides of an output waveguide  106 , that is to say in each case between output waveguide  106  and associated trench  5 , the total power of the scattered light of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer  100  is produced to an approximation by multiplying the power detected by the photodiode  3  by the factor  2 .  
         [0044]    The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 essentially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5. The only difference is that the trenches  5  interrupting the waveguide layer are not filled with an absorbent substance in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6. Rather, instead of absorption, the effect of total reflection is utilized for insulation of the individual regions.  
         [0045]    By way of example, the planar optical circuit is embodied using SiO 2  on Si technology. For production purposes, three SiO 2  layers are applied on a silicon wafer in a manner known per se, said layers usually being called the buffer layer, core layer and covering layer and each having different refractive indices. In this case, the central core layer has the largest refractive index. Before said core layer is covered with the outer covering layer, it is patterned with the aid of a photolithographically produced mask and an etching method, so that only individual ribs of said layer remain. These ribs are coated with the covering layer and then form the light-guiding waveguide core, which is situated such that it is buried about 20 μm in an SiO 2  layer system having a thickness of approximately 40 μm and usually has a cross section of approximately 6×6 μm.  
         [0046]    The trenches  5  interrupt at least the SiO 2  layer system in which the scattered light propagates, but may, in principle, also extend into the silicon substrate.  
         [0047]    If the trenches  5  are then etched into the SiO 2 -based waveguide layer and filled with air, a natural refractive index contrast of &gt;0.44 results. The following holds true for the angle α of total reflection in the transition from the glass to air: sin α&gt;1/n glass . An angle of &gt;43.83° results for n glass =1.444. In other words, all scattered light which falls onto a trench  5  at an angle of incidence of greater than 43.83° is totally reflected.  
         [0048]    The trenches  5 , then, are arranged between the attenuators—formed as Mach-Zehnder interferometers  100 —in such a way that the condition of total reflection is met and the scattered light can accordingly be channelled downstream of the attenuators  100 . This in turn enables the scattered light to be detected by means of integrated photodiodes  3  in order to indirectly determine the power in the output waveguide  106 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 7 illustrates a further design of the concept of realizing means for influencing the propagation of scattered light in a planar optical circuit by means that are integrated into the planar optical circuit.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 7 shows a waveguide or main channel  300 , the light power of which is intended to be monitored metrologically. By means of a coupler  310 , a specific proportion of the optical signal is coupled out from the main channel  300  and guided via a monitoring waveguide  320  to a photodiode arranged in a trench  340 . Usually,  3 % of the optical signal of the main channel  300  are coupled out from the main channel and fed to a photodiode for the purpose of power monitoring. The trench  340  terminates the monitoring waveguide  320 . The photodiode is not illustrated in FIG. 7 for the sake of clarity.  
         [0051]    One problem in conventional power monitoring devices is that the cross section of customary photodiodes is in the region of a few hundred μm. The cross section of the waveguide  320 , however, is only a few μm, usually 6×6 μm. This has the effect that the photodiode detects not only the optical signal from the waveguide cross section but also scattered light in the region of the waveguide. It must be taken into consideration here that the signal to be detected, with a proportion of  3 % of the main signal, is very small and competes with scattered light from any sources. In particular, scattered light also emerges from simple straight or curved waveguides.  
         [0052]    In order that a part of the scattered light is kept away from the photodiode, the trench  340  is configured such that a large part of the scattered light is reflected away from the trench  340  and from the photodiode by means of total reflection. For this purpose, it is provided that the trench  340  is provided with bevels  330  that effect total reflection at its region facing the monitoring waveguide  320 , that is to say its input region. Accordingly, only the signal to be detected which is coupled out by the coupler  310  and, to a small extent, scattered light which directly surrounds the monitoring waveguide  320  pass to the photodiode. The proportion of scattered light in the detected signal decreases considerably as a result.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 8 shows by way of example the arrangement of photodiodes in trenches in accordance with the trenches  340  of FIG. 7 using a concrete exemplary embodiment. In this case, a plurality of photodiodes  410 ,  411  arranged in two rows are mounted on a submount  420  and electrically contact-connected via the latter. The submount  420  with the photodiodes  410 ,  411  is mounted upside down onto an integrated optical chip or planar optical circuit with an Si carrier substrate  510  and an SiO 2  layer system  520  having the wave-guiding structures. In this case, the photodiodes  410 ,  411  are each sunk in trenches  340  in accordance with the trenches of FIG. 7. Light falling onto a photodiode  410  with a bevelled facet via an optical waveguide  530  is detected by the photodiode  410 . The trenches  340  are provided with bevels that effect total reflection in the input region in accordance with the illustration of FIG. 7. This cannot be discerned, however, in the sectional illustration of FIG. 8.  
         [0054]    The photodiodes  410 ,  411  are arranged in two or alternatively more rows since the individual trenches  340  are too large to all be able to be arranged next to one another.  
         [0055]    The mounting distance between the integrated optical chip  500  and the submount  420  and also the electrical connection between them are produced by means of soldering bumps  430 .  
         [0056]    The embodiment of the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments represented above. By way of example, a light-absorbing or light-guiding structure may also be realized in a manner other than by trenches, for example by impurity atoms which are introduced into the wave-guiding substrate and increase a light absorption or provide a light reflection on account of an altered refractive index.  
         [0057]    Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, alterations and/or modifications may be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including”, “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising”.