US Patent Application 18363489. Silicon Photonic Device With Backup Light Paths simplified abstract

Silicon Photonic Device With Backup Light Paths

Organization Name

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.

Inventor(s)

Weiwei Song of San Jose CA (US)

Stefan Rusu of Sunnyvale CA (US)

Chan-Hong Chern of Palo Alto CA (US)

Chih-Chang Lin of San Jose CA (US)

Silicon Photonic Device With Backup Light Paths - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18363489 titled 'Silicon Photonic Device With Backup Light Paths

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a semiconductor device that includes a first bus waveguide, a first silicon ring, and a backup silicon ring. The device also includes heaters to heat the silicon rings and a switch to electrically couple the rings to a radio frequency (RF) circuit.

• The semiconductor device includes a first bus waveguide, which is a pathway for transmitting light signals.
• The device has a first silicon ring that is optically coupled to the first bus waveguide, allowing the transmission of light signals between them.
• There is also a backup silicon ring that is optically coupled to the first bus waveguide, providing a redundant pathway for transmitting light signals.
• The device includes a first heater and a second heater, which are used to heat the first silicon ring and the backup silicon ring, respectively. Heating the rings can help control their optical properties.
• A first switch is included in the device, which can be in two switching positions. In the first switching position, the first silicon ring is electrically coupled to a first radio frequency (RF) circuit, allowing the transmission of electrical signals between them. In the second switching position, the backup silicon ring is electrically coupled to the first RF circuit.
• The switch allows for the selection of either the first silicon ring or the backup silicon ring to be connected to the RF circuit, providing flexibility and redundancy in the device's operation.

Original Abstract Submitted

A semiconductor device include: a first bus waveguide; a first silicon ring optically coupled to the first bus waveguide; a backup silicon ring optically coupled to the first bus waveguide; a first heater and a second heater configured to heat the first silicon ring and the backup silicon ring, respectively; and a first switch, where the first switch is configured to electrically couple the first silicon ring to a first radio frequency (RF) circuit when the first switch is at a first switching position, and is configured to electrically couple the backup silicon ring to the first RF circuit when the first switch is at a second switching position.