Optical Multiplexing Circuit and Light Source

Abstract

An optical multiplexing circuit capable of accurately monitoring light of a plurality of wavelengths is provided. An optical multiplexing circuit includes a plurality of branching units configured to each divide light output from a corresponding one of a plurality of input waveguides, a multiplexing unit configured to multiplex a plurality of first beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the plurality of branching units, an output waveguide configured to output the light multiplexed by the multiplexing unit, a plurality of monitoring multiplexing units that are optical circuits identical to the multiplexing unit, a plurality of first monitoring waveguides configured to output a plurality of second beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the plurality of branching units, to corresponding ones of the plurality of monitoring multiplexing units, and a plurality of second monitoring waveguides configured to each output an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of monitoring multiplexing units.

Claims

1. An optical multiplexing circuit, comprising: a plurality of branching units configured to each divide light output from a corresponding one of a plurality of input waveguides; a multiplexing unit that is configured to multiplex a plurality of first beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the plurality of branching units; an output waveguide that is configured to output the light multiplexed by the multiplexing unit; a plurality of monitoring multiplexing units that are optical circuits identical to the multiplexing unit; a plurality of first monitoring waveguides that are configured to output a plurality of second beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the plurality of branching units, to corresponding ones of the plurality of monitoring multiplexing units; and a plurality of second monitoring waveguides configured to each output an output of a corresponding one of the plurality of monitoring multiplexing units.

2. The optical multiplexing circuit according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second monitoring waveguides are each a bent waveguide for optical path conversion, and are each configured such that an optical axis of the plurality of input waveguides and an emission direction of light from the multiplexing unit are substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the plurality of second monitoring waveguides.

3. A light source with a monitoring operation, comprising: the optical multiplexing circuit according to claim 1; a plurality of laser diodes optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of input waveguides; and a plurality of photodiodes optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of second monitoring waveguides.

4. The light source with a monitoring operation according to claim 3, further comprising: a flip-up mirror that is provided in a middle of or at an emission end of the plurality of second monitoring waveguides, and converts an optical path of incident light, wherein the plurality of photodiodes are disposed so as to be optically coupled to the light having the optical path being converted by the flip-up mirror.

5. The light source with a monitoring operation according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of laser diodes are three laser diodes that output light of three primary colors of red light (R), green light (G), and blue light (B).

6. A light source with a monitoring operation, comprising: the optical multiplexing circuit according to claim 2; a plurality of laser diodes optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of input waveguides; and a plurality of photodiodes optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of second monitoring waveguides.

7. The light source with a monitoring operation according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of laser diodes are three laser diodes that output light of three primary colors of red light (R), green light (G), and blue light (B).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a typical light source of a projector using an LD.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a basic structure of an RGB coupler using a PLC.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an RGB coupler using two directional couplers.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 1 of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 3 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 4 of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 5 of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 6 of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method of mounting a PD in Example 6.

[0030] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring multiplexing unit for green light G in Example 7.

[0031] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring multiplexing unit for blue light B in Example 7.

[0032] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring multiplexing unit for red light R in Example 7.

[0033] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a dependence of the transmittance of a directional coupler on wavelength.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, description is given for the case of a method using a directional coupler as a multiplexer, but the present invention is not limited to a multiplexing method. Further, description is given by taking, as an example, an RGB coupler that multiplexes wavelengths of three primary colors of light, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to another optical multiplexing circuit that multiplexes a plurality of wavelengths.

First Embodiment

EXAMPLE 1

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 1 of a first embodiment of the present invention. A light source with a monitoring function includes first to third LDs 201.sub.1 to 201.sub.3 that respectively output light of respective colors of G, B, and R, a PLC-type RGB coupler 210, and first to third PDs 202.sub.1 to 202.sub.3 optically connected to the RGB coupler 210.

[0036] The PLC-type RGB coupler 210 includes first to third input waveguides 211.sub.1 to 211.sub.3 optically connected to the first to third LDs 201.sub.1 to 201.sub.3, first to third branching units 212.sub.1 to 212.sub.3 that divide light propagating through corresponding ones of the waveguides into two, a multiplexing unit 214 that multiplexes a plurality of first beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the first to third branching units 212.sub.1 to 212.sub.3, first to third monitoring waveguides 213.sub.1 to 213.sub.3 that output a plurality of second beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the first to third branching units 212.sub.1 to 212.sub.3, to corresponding ones of the first to third PDs 202.sub.1 to 202.sub.3, and an output waveguide 215 that outputs the light multiplexed by the multiplexing unit 214.

[0037] In the PLC-type RGB coupler 210, light incident on each of the first to third input waveguides 211.sub.1 to 211.sub.3 is divided into two by each of the first to third branching units 212.sub.1 to 212.sub.3. A plurality of first beams of the divided light are output to corresponding ones of the first to third PDs 202.sub.1 to 202.sub.3 via the first to third monitoring waveguides 213.sub.1 to 213.sub.3, respectively, and a plurality of second beams of the divided light are multiplexed by the multiplexing unit 214 and output to the output waveguide 215.

[0038] An optical multiplexing circuit using the directional coupler illustrated in FIG. 3 can be used as the multiplexing unit 214. In this case, the first to third input waveguides 211.sub.1 to 211.sub.3 are coupled to the first to third input waveguides 101 to 103 illustrated in FIG. 3, respectively, and the output waveguide 215 is coupled to the output waveguide 106 illustrated in FIG. 3. However, the multiplexing unit 214 is not limited thereto, and another multiplexing unit of a waveguide type (for example, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, a mode coupler, or the like) may be used.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when light propagating through the first to third input waveguides 211.sub.1 to 211.sub.3 is divided by the first to third branching units 212.sub.1 to 212.sub.3, respectively, a coupling characteristic between the first to third LDs 201.sub.1 to 201.sub.3 and the first to third input waveguides 211.sub.1 to 211.sub.3 can be monitored. In addition, it is possible to adjust white balance as a light source by using a monitoring value of the first to third PDs 202.sub.1 to 202.sub.3 by recognizing a multiplexing characteristic of the multiplexing unit 214 in advance.

EXAMPLE 2

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 2 of the first embodiment. A light source 210 with a monitoring function includes first to third LDs 201.sub.1 to 201.sub.3 that respectively output light of respective colors of G, B, and R, a PLC-type RGB coupler 210, and a PD 202 optically connected to the RGB coupler 210.

[0041] A branching unit 212 is provided near a multiplexing unit 214 in the RGB coupler 210. Light that has not been multiplexed in the multiplexing unit 214 or light leaking is output to the outside of the multiplexing unit 214 via a disposal port. The light that has been disposed of in this manner and has a mixture of colors is divided by the branching unit 212 and input to the PD 202 via a monitoring waveguide 213.

[0042] By taking the RGB coupler illustrated in FIG. 3 as an example of the multiplexing unit 214, the second directional coupler 105 being a directional coupler closest to an output side is also used as the branch 212. In other words, the third input waveguide 103 closest to the output side of the input waveguides that are not coupled to an output port is connected to the monitoring waveguide 213 as is and is optically connected to the PD 202. Alternatively, the branching unit 212 may be provided near the second directional coupler 105 being the directional coupler closest to the output side, or near a tip portion of the third input waveguide 103 closest to the output side of the input waveguides that are not coupled to the output port.

[0043] In Example 2, since light having a mixture of respective colors of R, G, and B is input to the PD 202 by using the disposal port of the multiplexing unit 214, monitoring can be performed without preparing a circuit for monitoring for each of R, G, and B. Thus, it is possible to realize a smaller light source, and also adjust white balance as a light source by using a monitoring value of the PD 202 by recognizing a multiplexing characteristic of the multiplexing unit 214 in advance.

EXAMPLE 3

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 3 of the first embodiment. A light source 210 with a monitoring function includes first to third LDs 201.sub.1 to 201.sub.3 that respectively output light of respective colors of G, B, and R, a PLC-type RGB coupler 210, and a PD 202 optically connected to the RGB coupler 210. A branching unit 212 is provided near an output waveguide 215 in the RGB coupler 210. Multiplexed light propagating through the output waveguide 215 is divided by the branching unit 212 and input to the PD 202.

[0045] In Example 3, an output of the output waveguide 215 can be directly monitored, and monitoring can be performed without preparing a circuit for monitoring for each color. Thus, it is possible to realize a smaller light source, and also adjust white balance as a light source by using a monitoring value of the PD 202 by recognizing a multiplexing characteristic of the multiplexing unit 214.

[0046] In the first embodiment, even though a light source is described for each one of the colors of R, G, and B, similar monitoring can be performed, even when a light source using an RRGGB coupler is used, by using the PD 202, the branching unit 212, and the monitoring waveguide 213 that are additional.

[0047] The branching unit 212 uses a circuit capable of dividing light propagating through a directional coupler and a waveguide such as a Y-branch waveguide. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, a point where light is divided may be located in any of the input waveguide 211, the multiplexing unit 214, and the output waveguide 215. In any case, an additional bulk component such as a half mirror is not necessary, and a light path inside the PLC need only be added, and the size of a chip rarely increases. Thus, the size of a light source can be reduced.

Second Embodiment

[0048] According to Example 1 of the first embodiment, although light of respective colors R, G, and B can be individually monitored, a multiplexing characteristic of the multiplexing unit 214 is not reflected in a monitoring value of the PDs 202.sub.1 to 202.sub.3, and thus, as described above, a multiplexing characteristic of the multiplexing unit 214 needs to be recognized in advance. According to Examples 2 and 3 of the first embodiment, there is a problem in that light of respective colors cannot be individually monitored.

[0049] Thus, in a second embodiment, a configuration is adopted where light of respective colors and light of a plurality of wavelengths can be individually monitored with high accuracy.

EXAMPLE 4

[0050] FIG. 7 illustrates a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 4 of the second embodiment of the present invention. The light source with a monitoring function includes first to third LDs 301.sub.1 to 301.sub.3 that respectively output light of respective colors of R, G, and B, a PLC-type RGB coupler 310, and first to third PDs 302.sub.1 to 302.sub.3 optically connected to the RGB coupler 310.

[0051] The PLC-type RGB coupler 310 includes first to third input waveguides 311.sub.1 to 311.sub.3 optically connected to the first to third LDs 301.sub.1 to 301.sub.3, respectively, first to third branching units 312.sub.1 to 312.sub.3 that divide light propagating through corresponding ones of the waveguides into two, a multiplexing unit 314 that multiplexes a plurality of first beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the first to third branching units 312.sub.1 to 312.sub.3, and an output waveguide 215 that outputs the light multiplexed by the multiplexing unit 214.

[0052] Furthermore, the RGB coupler 310 includes first to third monitoring waveguides 313.sub.1 to 313.sub.3 that output a plurality of second beams of the light, each obtained by dividing the light by a corresponding one of the first to third branching units 312.sub.1 to 312.sub.3, to corresponding ones of first to third monitoring multiplexing units 316.sub.1 to 316.sub.3, and first to third monitoring waveguides 317.sub.1 to 317.sub.3 that output an output of the first to third monitoring multiplexing units 316.sub.1 to 316.sub.3 to the first to third PDs 302.sub.1 to 302.sub.3.

[0053] The multiplexing unit 314 and the first to third monitoring multiplexing units 316.sub.1 to 316.sub.3 are completely identical optical circuits, and can use the RGB coupler illustrated in FIG. 3. In this case, the first to third input waveguides 311.sub.1 to 311.sub.3 are coupled to the first to third input waveguides 101 to 103 illustrated in FIG. 3, respectively, and the output waveguide 315 is coupled to the output waveguide 106 illustrated in FIG. 3. The first monitoring waveguide 313.sub.1 is the monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.1 and is coupled to the first input waveguide 101 illustrated in FIG. 3, the second monitoring waveguide 313.sub.2 is the monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.2 and is coupled to the second input waveguide 102 illustrated in FIG. 3, and the third monitoring waveguide 313.sub.3 is the monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.3 and is coupled to the second input waveguide 103 illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0054] With such a configuration, the light of the respective colors of R, G, and B received by the first to third PDs 302.sub.1 to 302.sub.3 propagates through and is output from an optical circuit identical to the optical circuit through which each of R, G, and B of the multiplexed light output from the output waveguide 215 propagates. Therefore, monitoring can be performed in consideration of a coupling characteristic of the first to third LDs 301.sub.1 to 301.sub.3 and the first to third input waveguides 311.sub.1 to 311.sub.3 and a multiplexing characteristic of the multiplexing unit 314. As a result, color control can be performed with high accuracy, and white balance as a light source can also be adjusted with high accuracy.

[0055] Since the optical circuits are produced on the same wafer and the same chip, characteristics of the four multiplexing units are considered uniform, and, as in Example 1, it is not necessary to recognize a multiplexing characteristic of the multiplexing unit 214 in advance. Further, since the four multiplexing units are identical optical circuits and can be produced simultaneously in a single process, the manufacturing cost does not increase, and additional components are also not needed.

EXAMPLE 5

[0056] FIG. 8 illustrates a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 5 of the second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the light source with a monitoring function is the same as that in Example 4, but the arrangement of the first to third monitoring multiplexing units 316.sub.1 to 316.sub.3 and the first to third PDs 302.sub.1 to 302.sub.3 is different. As illustrated in Examples 1 to 4, when the PDs 202 and 302 are disposed so as to face an emission surface of the LDs 201 and 301, stray light may be incident on the PDs 202 and 302, and an accurate monitoring value may not be taken. Stray light refers to light that leaks into the RGB couplers 210 and 310 when an output of the LDs 201 and 301 cannot be coupled to the input waveguides 211 and 311, light that cannot be multiplexed in the multiplexing units 214, 314, and 316 or leaks, light that leaks into the RGB couplers 210 and 310 via the disposal port of the multiplexing units 214, 314, and 316, and the like.

[0057] Thus, in Example 5, the first to third monitoring waveguides 317.sub.1 to 317.sub.3 are each a bent waveguide for optical path conversion of 90° such that the LDs 301 and the PDs 302 do not face each other. A configuration is adopted where an emission direction of light from the LDs 301 and an emission direction of light from the multiplexing units 314 and 316 are substantially perpendicular to an incident direction of light in the PDs 302, and thus it is possible to prevent stray light from being incident on the PDs 202 and 302.

[0058] The circuit arrangement inside the RGB coupler 310 may be any arrangement as long as a configuration is adopted where an optical axis of the input waveguides 311 and an emission direction of light from the multiplexing units 314 and 316 are substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the monitoring waveguides 317.

EXAMPLE 6

[0059] FIG. 9 illustrates a light source with a monitoring function according to Example 6 of the second embodiment of the present invention. A configuration of the light source with a monitoring function is the same as that in Example 5, but the method of mounting the first to third PDs 302.sub.1 to 302.sub.3 is different.

[0060] FIG. 10 illustrates a method of mounting the PD in Example 6.In the RGB coupler 310, an undercladding layer 402 and a core layer are layered in order on a substrate 401, and an optical circuit such as a waveguide, a branching unit, and a multiplexing unit is formed in the core layer. An overcladding layer 404 is formed so as to cover the optical circuit. FIG. 10 illustrates a cross section of X-X′ in FIG. 9.

[0061] A flip-up mirror 405 that converts an optical path of incident light by 90° is provided at an emission end of the first to third monitoring waveguides 317.sub.1 to 317.sub.3. The first to third PDs 302.sub.1 to 302.sub.3 are disposed so as to be optically coupled to the light having the optical path being converted by the flip-up mirror 405.

[0062] In Example 6, the PDs 302 are surface-mounted on the RGB coupler 310, and light emitted from the monitoring waveguides 317 is reflected above the substrate by using the flip-up mirror 405 and is incident on the PDs 302. The flip-up mirror 405 is acquired by adhering, to an emission end face of the RGB coupler 310, a substrate having an inclined surface of 45° separately created by using Si or the like. In addition, the flip-up mirror 405 can also be produced by a method of dry-etching a substrate being inclined to 45° and forming an inclined surface of 45° in the middle of the monitoring waveguides 317.

[0063] According to Example 6, the PDs 302 can be disposed so as not to face an emission surface of the LDs 301, and thus stray light is less likely to be incident on the PDs 302, and a mounting area of the light source can be reduced. Of course, also, in the light source of Example 4 illustrated in FIG. 7, a similar effect can be obtained by disposing the PDs 302 together with a flip-up mirror.

EXAMPLE 7

[0064] In Examples 4 to 6, the first to third monitoring multiplexing units 316.sub.1 to 316.sub.3 are optical circuits identical to the multiplexing unit 314, but a different monitoring multiplexing unit may be applied for each color as follows.

[0065] FIG. 11 illustrates a monitoring multiplexing unit for green light G in Example 7. When a propagation characteristic of the green light G (wavelength λ2) is simulated in the RGB coupler using the directional coupler illustrated in FIG. 3, the propagation characteristic is not affected by the waveguide and directional coupler for multiplexing red light R (wavelength λ3). As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the structure of the monitoring multiplexing unit can be simplified.

[0066] FIG. 12 illustrates a monitoring multiplexing unit for blue light B in Example 7. When a propagation characteristic of the blue light B (wavelength λ1) is simulated in the RGB coupler using the directional coupler illustrated in FIG. 3, the propagation characteristic is not affected by the waveguide and directional coupler for multiplexing the green light G (wavelength λ2), and the waveguide and directional coupler for multiplexing the red light R (wavelength λ3). As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the structure of the monitoring multiplexing unit can be simplified.

[0067] FIG. 13 illustrates a monitoring multiplexing unit for the red light R in Example 7. When a propagation characteristic of the red light R (wavelength λ3) is simulated in the RGB coupler using the directional coupler illustrated in FIG. 3, the propagation characteristic is not affected by the waveguide and directional coupler for multiplexing the green light G (wavelength λ2). As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the structure of the monitoring multiplexing unit can be simplified.

[0068] In this way, an optical circuit having the same characteristic as the propagation characteristic when light of respective colors of R, G, and B propagates through the multiplexing unit 314 can be applied as a monitoring multiplexing unit. In Example 7, a simplified structure of the directional coupler illustrated in FIG. 3 is illustrated; however, another circuit type may be used as long as the optical circuit has the same propagation characteristic. Further, the monitoring multiplexing units are each inserted for monitoring the respective colors of R, G, and B. However, for example, the second monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.2 of the blue light B (wavelength λ1) may be omitted, and the monitoring multiplexing units may be inserted for some wavelengths.

EXAMPLE 8

[0069] A light source with a monitoring function normally includes a thermistor. Since an oscillation wavelength of an LD fluctuates due to a change in temperature, feedback control is performed on the LD in accordance with the change in temperature. However, due to mounting restrictions of a package, it may not be possible to dispose a thermistor near an LD, and a measurement may be performed with one thermistor without disposing a thermistor on each individual LD. Therefore, it may not be possible to accurately measure the temperature of each individual LD.

[0070] Thus, in Example 8, a configuration is adopted where a change in wavelength due to a change in temperature can be monitored by using a monitoring multiplexing unit as a filter for temperature monitoring. For example, some of the first to third monitoring multiplexing units 316.sub.1 to 316.sub.3 in Example 4 illustrated in FIG. 7 are also used as a filter for temperature monitoring.

[0071] The filter for temperature monitoring can measure, as a change in light intensity of light received by the PDs 302, a change in oscillation wavelength of the LDs 301 due to a change in temperature. Therefore, the filter for temperature monitoring may be a circuit having a dependence on wavelength to the extent to which a change in the oscillation wavelength of the LDs 301 can be measured as a change in light intensity, and measurement is easy when the circuit has a strong dependence on wavelength. A specific example of a case where a directional coupler is applied as the filter for temperature monitoring will be described.

[0072] FIG. 14 illustrates a dependence of the transmittance of a directional coupler on wavelength. The first monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.1 for monitoring green light G (wavelength λ2=520 nm) is illustrated. In the directional coupler illustrated in FIG. 11, a core thickness H of a waveguide=1.75 μm, a specific refractive index difference Δ between waveguides=1.0%, a length L of the directional coupler=222 μm, a width W of the waveguide=1.5 μm, and a gap G between the waveguides=1.0 μm, and FIG. 14 illustrates transmittance when a crossport is an output with respect to an input port. When the first LD 301.sub.1 has an oscillation wavelength of 520 nm, the transmittance is designed to be 49.6%.

[0073] When a directional coupler is used as the filter for temperature monitoring, it is preferable to set the center wavelength of each of the LDs 301 at a point of transmittance of 50% at which a fluctuation of power is the greatest with respect to a change in wavelength. However, since the monitoring multiplexing unit 316 needs to have the same multiplexing characteristic as the multiplexing unit 314, the transmittance is set to 100% at an oscillation wavelength of the LDs 301. Thus, the monitoring multiplexing unit 316 serving as the filter for temperature monitoring sets an FSR so as to monotonically decrease or monotonically increase in a range of an assumed change in wavelength, and sets the transmittance to be 100% near the oscillation wavelength of the LDs 301.

[0074] The third monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.3 for monitoring the red light R can also be used as the filter for temperature monitoring by applying the directional coupler illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0075] On the other hand, since the second monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.2 for monitoring the blue light B does not have a filter characteristic as illustrated in FIG. 12, the second monitoring multiplexing unit 316.sub.2 cannot be used as the filter for temperature monitoring.