Integrated thermo-optic switch with thermally isolated and heat restricting pillars
US9448422B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2014 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/212
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
System and method embodiments are provided for a thermo-optic switch with thermally isolated and heat restricting pillars. The embodiments enable increased integration density in photonic integrated chips (PICs), reduced power consumption, improved switching speed, and increased chip lifetime. In an embodiment, an optical waveguide; a resistive heater in thermal contact with a surface of the optical waveguide; and a plurality of heat flow restricting pillars connected to the sides of the optical waveguide and supporting the optical waveguide such that the optical waveguide is substantially thermally isolated from a substrate below the optical waveguide by a gap formed between the optical waveguide and the substrate, and wherein the pillars restrict heat flow from the optical waveguide to a supporting structure that supports the pillars.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.