TDK has filed a patent for an optical device that aims to reduce light propagation loss by suppressing the occurrence of micro-cracks on the optical waveguide. The device includes a substrate, an optical waveguide made of an electro-optic material film, a protective layer, and a non-light-propagation optical waveguide with a surface roughness of RMS 0.5 nm or more. GlobalData’s report on TDK gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on TDK, Battery management systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. TDK's grant share as of September 2023 was 41%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Optical device with reduced light propagation loss due to surface roughness
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230314852A1) describes an optical device and an optical modulator with specific features. The optical device includes a substrate, an optical waveguide made of an electro-optic material film, and a protective layer adjacent to the waveguide. Additionally, there is a non-light-propagation optical waveguide provided outside a predetermined region. Notably, the surface roughness of the non-light-propagation waveguide is specified to be RMS 0.5 nm or more.
In the optical device, when viewing the substrate from above, the long side direction of the non-light-propagation waveguide extends along a predetermined direction. Furthermore, one side of the non-light-propagation waveguide aligns with the straight line portion of the optical waveguide when viewed from above. The shape of the non-light-propagation waveguide is described as rectangular, with one side of its long side extending along the straight line portion of the optical waveguide. The non-light-propagation waveguide is positioned in the vicinity of the straight line portion of the optical waveguide.
The surface roughness of the non-light-propagation waveguide, when viewed from a direction crossing the substrate, is in the form of a longitudinal stripe shape. The specified surface roughness is RMS 1.0 nm or more. Multiple non-light-propagation waveguides can be provided in the optical device. The film thicknesses of both the non-light-propagation waveguide and the optical waveguide are substantially the same.
The electro-optic material film used in the optical device can be LiNbO3 or LiNbO3 doped with at least Ti. Additionally, the electro-optic material film can be an epitaxial film, which is oriented in a direction crossing the substrate.
The patent also describes an optical modulator that shares similarities with the optical device. The optical modulator includes a substrate, an optical waveguide made of an electro-optic material film, and a protective layer adjacent to the waveguide. It also features an electrode that applies an electric field to the optical waveguide. Similar to the optical device, a non-light-propagation optical waveguide is provided outside the predetermined region, with a specified surface roughness of RMS 0.5 nm or more.
In summary, this patent application introduces an optical device and an optical modulator with specific design features, including the use of an electro-optic material film, a protective layer, and a non-light-propagation waveguide. The surface roughness of the non-light-propagation waveguide is emphasized, along with the orientation and shape of the waveguide. These innovations aim to enhance the performance and functionality of optical devices and modulators.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
