{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854336","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854336","title":"Systems and methods for coupling a fiber to a polarization sensitive photonic integrated circuit","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2015-12-31T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04Q","H04J","H04J","H04Q","H04Q","H04Q"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"The integrated network element offers an efficient fiber-chip coupling of multiple outputs of a polarization sensitive photonic integrated circuit (PIC) using a programmable mirror co-packaged with the PIC. Efficient fiber-chip coupling requires precise and active alignment of all free-space components. These constraints can be reduced by using a programmable mirror in the form of a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device. The LCoS can be programmed with patterns that offer highly accurate beam-steering and focusing functionality. Imaging optics may be used at the PIC facet to provide some degree of collimation in the free-space optical path to efficiently illuminate the LCoS. By reprogramming the LCoS switching between two outputs/inputs can be obtained at high speed."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Systems and Methods for Coupling a Fiber to a Polarization Sensitive Photonic Integrated Circuit patent introduces an innovative approach to fiber-chip coupling, addressing the limitations of traditional methods. The core innovation lies in the use of a programmable mirror, specifically a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device, co-packaged with the photonic integrated circuit (PIC). This allows for dynamic beam-steering and focusing, optimizing signal transmission and enabling high-speed switching between multiple inputs/outputs. The problem being solved is the difficulty and inefficiency of achieving precise and reliable fiber-chip coupling, particularly for polarization-sensitive devices.\n\nThe key technical approach involves using the LCoS device as a programmable phase modulator, allowing for precise control over the direction and focus of light beams. Imaging optics are strategically placed at the PIC facet to collimate the light, ensuring efficient illumination of the LCoS. This design minimizes the need for manual alignment and enhances stability. The business value and applications of this technology are significant. It promises to improve the performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of PIC-based systems, enabling more advanced and versatile optical communication networks. This innovation has potential applications in telecommunications, data centers, aerospace, and other industries that rely on high-speed data transmission and processing.\n\nThe market opportunity for this technology is substantial, driven by the increasing demand for bandwidth and the growing adoption of PIC-based systems. The Systems and Methods for Coupling a Fiber to a Polarization Sensitive Photonic Integrated Circuit patent offers a competitive advantage by providing a more efficient, reliable, and flexible fiber-chip coupling solution. This technology has the potential to disrupt the traditional fiber optics market and create new opportunities for innovation and growth.","layman_explanation":"The Systems and Methods for Coupling a Fiber to a Polarization Sensitive Photonic Integrated Circuit patent tackles a critical challenge in modern communication systems: efficiently connecting optical fibers to photonic integrated circuits (PICs). These PICs are like miniature electronic circuits that use light instead of electricity to process information. However, getting the light from the fiber into the PIC efficiently is tricky, especially when the PIC is sensitive to the polarization of the light.\n\n**1. What Problem Does This Solve?**\n\nImagine trying to shine a flashlight into a keyhole. If the flashlight isn't perfectly aligned, most of the light will miss the keyhole. Similarly, if the polarization of the light isn't correct, the PIC won't work efficiently. Existing solutions often require very precise manual alignment, which is time-consuming and expensive, and even then, the alignment can drift over time due to temperature changes or vibrations.\n\n**2. How Does It Work?**\n\nThis invention uses a special programmable mirror made of liquid crystals on silicon (LCoS). Think of it like a tiny, super-precise funhouse mirror. By changing the electrical signals sent to the liquid crystals, the shape of the mirror can be adjusted to steer and focus the light beam. This allows the system to automatically compensate for misalignments and polarization errors, ensuring that the light is perfectly aligned with the PIC.\n\n**3. Why Does This Matter?**\n\nThis technology has the potential to significantly improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of optical communication systems. It can enable faster data transfer rates, lower power consumption, and reduced manufacturing costs. This is crucial for applications such as telecommunications, data centers, and aerospace, where high-speed and reliable data transmission are essential. The market impact is substantial.\n\n**4. What's Next?**\n\nFuture applications of this technology could include advanced optical sensors, high-resolution displays, and quantum computing. As the demand for bandwidth continues to grow, efficient fiber-chip coupling will become even more critical, making this technology a valuable asset for companies in the photonics industry.","technical_analysis":"The Systems and Methods for Coupling a Fiber to a Polarization Sensitive Photonic Integrated Circuit patent details a system designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of fiber-chip coupling, particularly in polarization-sensitive photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The technical architecture revolves around the integration of a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device as a programmable mirror, co-packaged with the PIC. This LCoS device facilitates dynamic beam-steering and focusing, crucial for optimizing signal transmission.\n\nImplementation details involve the strategic placement of imaging optics at the PIC facet. These optics collimate the light emitted from the PIC, ensuring that it efficiently illuminates the LCoS device. The LCoS device then acts as a programmable phase modulator, enabling precise control over the direction and focus of the light beam. This approach significantly reduces the need for manual alignment, a common bottleneck in traditional fiber-chip coupling methods.\n\nThe algorithm employed by the LCoS device involves calculating the appropriate phase pattern to apply to the liquid crystals based on the desired beam-steering and focusing parameters. This calculation takes into account the wavelength of the light, the angle of incidence, and the desired output direction. Integration patterns involve careful consideration of the mechanical and electrical interfaces between the LCoS device and the PIC. The co-packaging of these components is essential for maintaining stability and minimizing the impact of environmental factors.\n\nPerformance characteristics of the system are primarily determined by the switching speed and accuracy of the LCoS device. The faster the LCoS device can switch between different phase patterns, the higher the data transfer rate that can be achieved. The accuracy of the beam-steering and focusing directly impacts the signal-to-noise ratio of the coupled signal. Code-level implications involve the development of software algorithms to control the LCoS device and optimize its performance. This includes calibration routines to compensate for imperfections in the LCoS device and feedback loops to maintain optimal alignment over time.","business_analysis":"The Systems and Methods for Coupling a Fiber to a Polarization Sensitive Photonic Integrated Circuit patent presents a significant market opportunity within the rapidly growing field of photonics. The increasing demand for high-speed data transmission and processing is driving the adoption of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which offer advantages in terms of bandwidth, power consumption, and integration density. However, the efficient and reliable coupling of fibers to PICs remains a critical challenge.\n\nThis patent addresses this challenge by providing a novel approach to fiber-chip coupling that utilizes a programmable mirror, specifically a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) device. This technology offers several competitive advantages over traditional methods, including improved alignment accuracy, faster switching speeds, and reduced manufacturing costs. The market opportunity size for this technology is substantial, encompassing various industries such as telecommunications, data centers, aerospace, and medical devices.\n\nThe revenue potential for this technology is significant, driven by the increasing demand for high-speed data transmission and the growing adoption of PIC-based systems. Business models could include licensing the technology to PIC manufacturers, developing and selling integrated fiber-chip coupling modules, or providing fiber-chip coupling services. Strategic positioning would involve targeting markets where high-speed data transmission and polarization sensitivity are critical requirements.\n\nROI projections would depend on the specific business model and market segment. However, the potential for significant cost savings and performance improvements suggests that this technology could generate a substantial return on investment. The competitive advantages offered by this technology, combined with the growing demand for PIC-based systems, make it a promising investment opportunity.","faqs":null,"topics":["fiber-chip coupling","LCoS","photonic integrated circuit","optical switching","polarization sensitive"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Fiber-Chip Coupling with LCoS - Systems and Methods for Coupling a Fiber to a Polarization Sensitive Photonic Integrated Circuit","description":"Discover Systems and Methods for Coupling a Fiber to a Polarization Sensitive Photonic Integrated Circuit.  This patent uses LCoS to dynamically optimize signal transmission.","keywords":["fiber-chip coupling","LCoS","photonic integrated circuit","optical switching","polarization sensitive","patent","patent US-9854336"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854336","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854336","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Systems and methods for coupling a fiber to a polarization sensitive photonic integrated circuit\" (US-9854336). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854336","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854336","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854336","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T11:41:20.707Z"}