Integrated photonic nanowires-based waveguide

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes an integrated photonic waveguide constructed from arrays of ridge-shaped nanowires. Unlike traditional solid-core waveguides, these nanowires can be easily fabricated—individually or as arrays—on a variety of substrates. The key innovation is that the structure enables more of the guided light to interact with the surrounding environment (the so-called evanescent field). This greatly enhances the system's sensitivity to changes in the environment, making it particularly useful for optical sensing and advanced photonic circuits.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Highly sensitive biosensors for medical diagnostics, able to detect biomolecules in a surrounding fluid or gas.
• Chemical and environmental sensors that monitor tiny changes in air or liquid near the waveguide.
• Integrated photonic circuits for telecommunications and data transfer with advanced light manipulation capabilities.
• Devices for enhanced absorption, phase, or fluorescence detection in scientific instrumentation.
• Advanced optical components such as ring resonators, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, and mode-shaping elements.
• Miniaturized lab-on-a-chip or lab-in-fiber systems for real-time analysis and diagnostics.
• Optical coupling, beam-splitting, and focusing in compact photonic devices.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables a much larger interaction of guided light with the surrounding medium, increasing sensitivity for sensing applications.
• Compatible with standard photonic, MEMS, and silicon-based fabrication technologies, allowing cost-effective mass production.
• Design flexibility: nanowire arrays can be ordered, disordered, random, and produced in various shapes, configurations, and materials.
• Improved ease of integration with other optical and fluidic components on a chip.
• Can be fabricated using a wide range of established techniques, including photolithography, two-photon polymerization, and molding.
• Supports both solid and partially suspended or freestanding structures, allowing adaptation to many application-specific needs.
• Potential to create new optical components with enhanced or tunable properties by adjusting nanowire geometry or arrangement.
• Offers high reproducibility and scalability compared to previous methods using single, isolated nanowires.

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Patent Abstract

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a waveguide that has excellent optical properties and can be easily produced. This objective is achieved according to the present invention by a photonic nanowires based waveguide, comprising: a) a plurality of nanowires; each nanowire having a ridge shape; b) said nanowires being supported by a support substrate or partially or totally free standing; c) said support substrate further supporting interfacing waveguides disposed on both sides of said plurality of nanowires. The special concept of present invention allows to al0ign a number of ridge-shaped nanowire that enables to control the amount of light being outside the solid waveguide in the evanescence field. Further, the design is compatible with solid waveguides and offers the possibility to confine (guide the light) within a multiple waveguide arrangement.