Resolving the scalability challenge of wavelength locking for multiple micro-rings via pipelined time-division-multiplexing control

Abstract

Micro-ring resonator (MRR) is a key photonic device that has a wide range of applications but suffers from wavelength uncertainties. For almost all practical applications, a wavelength controller is required for each MRR. The wavelength controller is usually much larger than the MRR. With more complicated control algorithms, the controller size becomes even larger. Equipping each MRR with a wavelength controller will not be scalable. We propose a pipelined time-division-multiplexing (PTDM) control scheme that achieves high scalability while maintaining good loop bandwidth by exploiting the speed mismatch between the heater and the controller. To verify this proposed scheme, a hybrid integrated controller supporting four MRRs is designed. Measurement results show that it achieves a sine tracking speed of about 15 nm/s while achieving a locking accuracy of 7 pm and a tuning range of 9 nm.

From static buckling to nonlinear dynamics of circular rings

“…and it is further assumed that v 3 → 0 and w 3 ,θ → 0, so that Equation ( 6) can be written as shown in Equation (26),…”

“…It is worth pointing out that the shape functions in Equation (33) do not make the change of curvature (26) null, exactly as it happens in the case of the classic first buckling shape (23). In this respect, the inextensibility represented by both Equations ( 18) plays only the role of an internal constraint that simplifies the formulation from a mathematical point of view, even if it reflects the physical aptitude of a thin ring to prefer bending over extensional deformation, as indeed it is also the case of thin hollow tubes also do [87].…”

“…Venous valves used in vascular surgery and annuloplasty devices (Figure 2D), for instance, may benefit from the control of ring dynamic behavior providing a major socio-economic impact and/or potential for investment in addition to an improvement of their performances, efficiency, and reliability. In the optic field, intensive investigations are going on tunable resonators, photonic modulators, wavelength division multiplexing filters, and switches [23][24][25][26]. Taking advantage of the resonance characteristics of micro-rings, such devices offer many desirable characteristics and unique performance metrics such as ultra-compact physical size, ultra-high modulation speed, low power consumption, ultra-low modulation power, high energy efficiency, and so on.…”