WO2019062118A1 - Waveguide phase shifter and preparation method therefor - Google Patents
Waveguide phase shifter and preparation method therefor Download PDFInfo
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- WO2019062118A1 WO2019062118A1 PCT/CN2018/085139 CN2018085139W WO2019062118A1 WO 2019062118 A1 WO2019062118 A1 WO 2019062118A1 CN 2018085139 W CN2018085139 W CN 2018085139W WO 2019062118 A1 WO2019062118 A1 WO 2019062118A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/0147—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on thermo-optic effects
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/015—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on semiconductor elements having potential barriers, e.g. having a PN or PIN junction
Definitions
- Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of optical semiconductor technologies, and in particular, to a waveguide phase shifter and a method for fabricating the same.
- a laser radar is a radar system that emits a laser beam to detect the position and velocity of a target. Its working principle is similar to microwave radar. Obtaining an equal-phase-interval multiplexed laser through the phase shifter array, thereby controlling the outgoing light direction and transmitting the detection signal to the target, and then comparing the received signal reflected from the target, that is, the target echo and the transmitted signal, through the software.
- the target can accurately obtain the target distance, azimuth, altitude, speed, shape and other parameters to detect, track and identify the target.
- the development of artificial intelligence, automatic driving, and the rise of assisted driving will greatly promote the application of laser radar in the civilian field.
- the optical phase shifter array is capable of controlling the angle of the outgoing beam and is a core component of the laser radar.
- the optical phase shifter array is mainly obtained by the main optical path passing through the MMI structure or the star beam splitter, dividing the light into multiple paths, and then introducing the phase shifter array through the waveguide.
- Principle of silicon waveguide optical phase shifter By using the thermo-optic effect of silicon material, the refractive index of the silicon waveguide is changed by setting different temperatures, and finally the phase adjustment of the beam is realized.
- the phase modulation mode of the silicon waveguide thermo-optical phase shifter array mainly adopts the method of heating the metal by the top.
- the utility model is characterized in that an optical isolation layer is added between the silicon waveguide and the metal, and after heating the metal, the heat is conducted to the waveguide to achieve the phase modulation effect.
- the top heating of the metal reduces the heating efficiency, while the metal cannot withstand too high a temperature, the phase adjustment is limited, and the scanning angle is small, ⁇ 3 degrees, which is difficult to apply in practice.
- the embodiment of the invention provides a waveguide phase shifter and a preparation method thereof, which are used to solve the problem that the phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect in the prior art has limited phase adjustment and is difficult to be applied in practice.
- the invention provides a waveguide phase shifter comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate including at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer, and a top silicon layer, wherein the oxide layer is located between the substrate layer and the top silicon layer, and a waveguide is etched at the top silicon layer
- An array the waveguide array being at least one horizontally arranged ridge waveguide, and at least one high doping corresponding to the ridge waveguide is formed by ion implantation at a horizontal position of the top silicon layer adjacent to the ridge waveguide
- a first metal electrode for connecting the power source anode and a second metal electrode for connecting the power source cathode are respectively formed on the upper surfaces of each of the highly doped regions.
- an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for preparing the waveguide phase shifter described above, including:
- the first semiconductor substrate comprising at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer and a top silicon layer, wherein the oxide layer is located intermediate the substrate layer and the top silicon layer;
- a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method for fabricating the same, by providing a highly doped region on a side of the ridge waveguide, and then heating the highly doped region to achieve the ridge waveguide
- the purpose of heating is to achieve phase modulation of the light waves passing through the ridge waveguide.
- the integrated edge-heated waveguide phase shifter solution improves the heating efficiency of the ridge waveguide, and adopts a simple structure to completely separate the photon transmission and the carrier transport path space, thereby effectively reducing the current carrying current. Sub-absorption losses, waveguide bending losses, and other potential optical losses, and the structure requires low process accuracy and high yield.
- the laser radar using the waveguide phase shifter enables a high-angle, high-precision scanning function.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a first semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a second semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a third semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a fourth semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
- the semiconductor substrate including at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer, and a top silicon layer 10, wherein the oxide layer is located between the substrate layer and the top silicon layer 10, and the top silicon layer 10 is engraved Etching the waveguide array, the waveguide array being at least one horizontally arranged ridge waveguide 11 and corresponding to the ridge waveguide 11 by ion implantation at a horizontal position of the top silicon layer close to the ridge waveguide 11
- a waveguide phase shifter is an optical device used to change the phase of a passing light wave. For example, when a waveguide phase shifter is applied to a laser radar, a waveguide phase shifter is integrated behind the beam splitter, so that the light wave passes through the beam splitter. After being divided into a plurality of optical waves of the same phase, phase modulation is performed by different waveguides of the waveguide phase shifter, and then light waves of different phases are transmitted through an optical antenna connected behind the waveguide phase shifter to realize part of the function of the radar.
- the waveguide phase shifter of the embodiment of the present invention phase-modulates the passing light wave by a thermo-optic effect, and heats the ridge-shaped waveguide 11 through which the light wave passes, thereby changing the refractive index of the ridge-shaped waveguide 11, and further, the light wave.
- the phase is modulated.
- the waveguide phase shifter is integrated on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate can adopt the most commonly used SOI substrate, and the SOI substrate is divided into three layers from bottom to top, respectively being a substrate layer and an oxide layer.
- the top silicon layer 10, wherein the main components of the phase shifter are located in the top silicon layer 10, and the thickness of the top silicon layer 10 can be made according to actual needs, for example, 220 to 500 nm.
- the top silicon layer of the semiconductor substrate is intrinsic silicon.
- the material of the top silicon layer is intrinsic silicon, thereby obtaining good light guiding properties and high electrical resistance properties, wherein the intrinsic silicon has a resistivity of 100000 ⁇ - 1 ⁇ / cm.
- the waveguide array is a row of horizontally arranged ridge waveguides 11, that is, the etching depth thereof does not etch away the entire top layer of the silicon layer 10
- the number of the ridge waveguides 11 can be adjusted according to specific needs, for example, the number of the ridge waveguides 11 in the laser radar is the same as the number of in-phase optical waves output by the beam splitter before the waveguide phase shifter. correspond.
- the ridge waveguide 11 In order to phase-modulate the light waves in the ridge waveguide 11, it is necessary to heat-treat the ridge waveguide 11.
- ions are implanted, and the ions may be boron, phosphorus or the like to realize doping of silicon N-type or P-type, thereby forming two sides of each ridge waveguide 11
- the horizontal position forms at least one highly doped region 12.
- the highly doped region 12 may be located on either side of the ridge waveguide, or an equal-length highly doped region 12 may be disposed on both sides of the ridge waveguide.
- the resistivity of the highly doped region 12 is greatly reduced compared to the intrinsic silicon, and its resistivity is 0.00001 ⁇ - 1 ⁇ / cm.
- a first metal electrode 13 for connecting the power source anode and a second metal electrode 14 for connecting the power source cathode are respectively formed on the upper surfaces of both ends of each of the highly doped regions 12.
- a current is formed on the highly doped regions.
- the resistivity of the intrinsic silicon is much higher than that of the highly doped region 12, no current flows into the ridge waveguide 11, and light waves are mainly confined in the ridge waveguide 11, thereby realizing light waves.
- the spatial separation of transmission and electronic transmission routes reduces the loss of optical transmission.
- the operating temperature of the highly doped region 12 is controlled by the power supply anode input power connected to the first metal electrode 13 of the highly doped region 12.
- the highly doped region 12 generates heat during the flow of current and eventually reaches a stable operating temperature that is controlled by the input power of the anode connected through the first metal electrode 13.
- the specific input power needs to be calculated according to actual conditions, for example, according to parameters such as the length of the highly doped region 12 and the ridge waveguide 11, the amount of phase to be adjusted by the light wave, and the doping concentration of the highly doped region 12. And actually adjusted.
- the highly heated doped region 12 transfers heat to the ridge waveguide 11 through the top silicon layer 10, thereby heating the ridge waveguide 11, and further adjusting the phase of the light passing through the ridge waveguide 11.
- the waveguide phase shifter of the embodiment of the present invention achieves the purpose of heating the ridge waveguide 11 by providing a highly doped region 12 on the side of the ridge waveguide 11 and then heating the highly doped region 12 to be electrically heated. Thereby, the phase modulation of the light wave passing through the ridge waveguide 11 is realized, the heating efficiency of the ridge waveguide 11 is improved, and the adjustment range of the phase is improved, and the laser radar using the waveguide phase shifter is realized at the same time. Angle, high-precision scanning function.
- the lengths of the highly doped regions 12 corresponding to all the ridge waveguides 11 in the waveguide array are horizontally arranged in the waveguide array according to the ridge waveguide 11. The order is incremented or decremented.
- phase modulation methods for the waveguide phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect there are many kinds of phase modulation methods for the waveguide phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect, and the most important ones are two, one is an equal length heating waveguide, and the other is a unequal length heating waveguide.
- the equal length heating waveguides that is, the lengths of all the highly doped regions 12 are equal
- the operating temperature of each highly doped region 12 is controlled by adjusting the input power to each of the highly doped regions 12, respectively, using the ridge waveguide 11 heating temperature difference for different phase modulation.
- the method is relatively simple in manufacturing process, due to the temperature difference between the highly doped regions, it is necessary to overcome the heating temperature of the adjacent ridge waveguide by the highly doped region 12 corresponding to each ridge waveguide 11 . influences.
- Another type of unequal length heating waveguide is to design a highly doped region 12 of unequal length such that the length of the heating region of the ridge waveguide 11 varies with the length of the highly doped region 12, using the ridge waveguide 11
- the lengths of the heating are different to perform different phase modulations, and the heating temperatures of the ridge waveguides 11 can be considered to be the same or approximately the same. Since the heating temperature of the ridge waveguide 11 is the same, the pitch of the ridge waveguide 11 can be shortened, for example, the distance between the adjacent two pairs of the ridge waveguide 11 and the highly doped region 12 is 5 ⁇ m. Long heating.
- the size of the waveguide phase shifter using unequal length heating is greatly reduced, thereby facilitating integration.
- the same heating temperature also means that the phase can be specifically adjusted by adjusting the heating temperature, and since there is no temperature difference, it can be known that the range that can be adjusted is larger than that of the equal length heating waveguide to realize the high-angle scanning of the laser radar.
- the unequal length heating waveguide is used as the phase modulation mode of the waveguide phase shifter.
- the length of the highly doped region 12 corresponding to the ridge waveguide 11 is also different.
- the length of the highly doped regions 12 can be ordered as desired such that the length of the highly doped regions 12 in the waveguide array is sequentially incremented or decremented.
- a difference in length of the highly doped region 12 corresponding to two adjacent ridge waveguides 11 in the waveguide array is set according to a preset phase difference.
- Each waveguide phase shifter pre-sets a phase difference according to the specific technical requirements and the optical wave band of the waveguide phase shifter before the fabrication, and then calculates the required optical path difference according to the phase difference, and then calculates the adjacent two optical paths.
- the length of the heating zone required between the ridge waveguides 11 is different, and finally the difference in length of the highly doped regions 12 corresponding to the adjacent two ridge waveguides 11 is calculated. After the length difference of the adjacent highly doped regions 12 is obtained, the length of each highly doped region 12 can be designed according to the actual waveguide phase shifter condition and technical requirements.
- the waveguide phase shifter realizes a phase modulation mode of unequal-length heating by designing a highly doped region 12 of unequal length, thereby reducing the size of the waveguide phase shifter and improving the range of phase adjustment. And facilitate the integration of the waveguide phase shifter.
- the ends of the second metal electrodes of all the highly doped regions on the waveguide phase shifter are located on the same side of the waveguide array, and all the second metal electrodes are connected to be connected to The same power cathode.
- the actual working area is a conductive region between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode, so even if the same length design is adopted when forming a highly doped region, The distance between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode corresponding to the adjacent two highly doped regions satisfies the calculated difference in length between the adjacent two highly doped regions to achieve a preset phase difference.
- a relatively convenient design also places the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode at each end of each highly doped region.
- one end of all highly doped regions on the waveguide phase shifter is located on the same side of the waveguide array, for example, the end of the second metal electrode is located on the same side of the waveguide array, at this time due to the second
- the metal electrodes are all used to connect the cathode of the power supply, so it is also possible to connect all of the second metal electrodes and simultaneously connect them to the cathode of the power supply.
- the waveguide phase shifter is made simpler and more convenient by placing one end of the highly doped region on the same side of the waveguide array and connecting all the second metal electrodes.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a first semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a second semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention
- 5 is a schematic structural view of a third semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the method includes:
- Step S01 acquiring a first semiconductor substrate, the first semiconductor substrate comprising at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer and a top silicon layer, wherein the oxide layer is located between the substrate layer and the top silicon layer;
- a waveguide phase shifter is an optical device for changing the phase of a light wave passing through, and is integrated on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate can employ the most commonly used SOI substrate from bottom to top. Divided into three layers, respectively, a substrate layer 30, an oxide layer 20 and a top silicon layer 10, wherein the main components of the phase shifter are located in the top silicon layer 10, and the thickness of the top silicon layer 10 can be performed according to actual needs.
- the production is, for example, 220 to 500 nm.
- the top silicon layer 10 of the semiconductor substrate is intrinsic silicon.
- the material of the top silicon layer is intrinsic silicon, thereby obtaining good light guiding properties and high electrical resistance properties, wherein the intrinsic silicon has a resistivity of 100000 ⁇ - 1 ⁇ / cm.
- Step S02 etching a waveguide array in the top silicon layer, the waveguide array is at least one horizontally arranged ridge waveguide, thereby obtaining a second semiconductor substrate;
- a waveguide array on a top silicon layer 10 of the first semiconductor substrate by a conventional semiconductor process such as photolithography and etching, wherein the waveguide array is a row of horizontally arranged ridge waveguides 11, that is, the etching depth thereof is not
- the entire top layer of the silicon layer 10 is etched away, for example, 70 to 200 nm.
- the number of the ridge waveguides 11 can be adjusted according to specific needs, for example, the number of the ridge waveguides 11 in the laser radar corresponds to the number of light waves output by the beam splitter before the waveguide phase shifter. Thereby a second semiconductor substrate is obtained.
- Step S03 determining a length of the highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide according to a preset phase difference and a position of each ridge waveguide in the waveguide array, and then approaching the ridge in the top silicon layer a horizontal position of the waveguide is formed by ion implantation to form at least one highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide, thereby obtaining a third semiconductor substrate;
- the ridge waveguide 11 In order to phase-modulate the light waves in the ridge waveguide 11, it is necessary to heat-treat the ridge waveguide 11. At a horizontal position of the top silicon layer of the second semiconductor substrate near each of the ridge waveguides 11, at least one height is formed at a horizontal position on each side of each ridge waveguide 11 by a conventional semiconductor process such as photolithography, ion implantation, and annealing. Doped region 12, wherein the ions may be boron, phosphorus, etc., to achieve doping of silicon N-type or P-type. Thereby a third semiconductor substrate is obtained.
- the highly doped region 12 may be located on either side of the ridge waveguide, or an equal-length highly doped region 12 may be disposed on both sides of the ridge waveguide.
- Step S04 forming a first metal electrode for connecting the power source anode and a second metal electrode for connecting the power source cathode on the upper surfaces of each of the highly doped regions of the third semiconductor substrate, thereby obtaining a fourth Semiconductor substrate.
- first metal electrode 13 for connecting the power source anode and a second electrode for connecting the power source cathode by using a process such as photolithography, deposition metal, and lift-off on the upper surfaces of each of the highly doped regions 12 of the third semiconductor substrate Metal electrode 14.
- a process such as photolithography, deposition metal, and lift-off on the upper surfaces of each of the highly doped regions 12 of the third semiconductor substrate Metal electrode 14.
- the operating temperature of the highly doped region 12 is controlled by the power supply anode input power connected to the first metal electrode 13 of the highly doped region 12.
- the highly doped region 12 generates heat during the flow of current and eventually reaches a stable operating temperature that is controlled by the input power of the anode connected through the first metal electrode 13.
- the specific input power needs to be calculated according to actual conditions, for example, according to parameters such as the length of the highly doped region 12 and the ridge waveguide 11, the amount of phase to be adjusted by the light wave, and the doping concentration of the highly doped region 12. And actually adjusted.
- the highly heated doped region 12 transfers heat to the ridge waveguide 11 through the top silicon layer 10, thereby heating the ridge waveguide 11, and further adjusting the phase of the light passing through the ridge waveguide 11.
- the preparation method provided by the embodiment of the present invention is used to prepare the above-mentioned waveguide phase shifter, and its function and structure are specifically referred to the above embodiments, and details are not described herein again.
- the waveguide phase shifter of the embodiment of the present invention achieves the purpose of heating the ridge waveguide 11 by providing a highly doped region 12 on the side of the ridge waveguide 11 and then heating the highly doped region 12 to be electrically heated. Thereby, the phase modulation of the light wave passing through the ridge waveguide 11 is realized, the heating efficiency of the ridge waveguide 11 is improved, and the adjustment range of the phase is improved, and the laser radar using the waveguide phase shifter is realized at the same time. Angle, high-precision scanning function.
- the lengths of the highly doped regions corresponding to all the ridge waveguides in the waveguide array are increased or decreased in the order in which the ridge waveguides are horizontally arranged in the waveguide array.
- phase modulation methods for the waveguide phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect there are many kinds of phase modulation methods for the waveguide phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect, and the most important ones are two, one is an equal length heating waveguide, and the other is a unequal length heating waveguide.
- the equal length heating waveguides that is, the lengths of all the highly doped regions are equal
- different phase modulation is performed by adjusting the operating temperature of each highly doped region by using the temperature difference of the ridge waveguide heating. Due to the temperature difference between the highly doped regions, it is necessary to overcome the influence of the highly doped region corresponding to each ridge waveguide on the heating temperature of the adjacent ridge waveguide.
- Another type of unequal-length heating waveguide is to design a highly doped region of unequal length such that the length of the heating region of the ridge waveguide varies with the length of the highly doped region, and the length of heating by the ridge waveguide is different.
- Different phase modulations are performed, and the heating temperatures of the ridge waveguides may be considered to be the same or approximately the same. Since the heating temperature of the ridge waveguide is the same, the pitch of the ridge waveguide can be shortened relatively, for example, the distance between adjacent two pairs of ridge waveguides and the highly doped region is 5 ⁇ m, thereby achieving unequal length heating.
- the size of the waveguide phase shifter using unequal length heating is greatly reduced, thereby facilitating integration.
- the same heating temperature also means that the phase can be specifically adjusted by adjusting the heating temperature, and since there is no temperature difference, it can be known that the range that can be adjusted is larger than that of the equal length heating waveguide to realize the high-angle scanning of the laser radar.
- the unequal length heating waveguide is used as the phase modulation mode of the waveguide phase shifter.
- the length of the highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide is also different.
- the length of the highly doped regions can be ordered as desired such that the length of the highly doped regions in the waveguide array is sequentially incremented or decremented.
- a length difference of the highly doped regions corresponding to adjacent two ridge waveguides in the waveguide array is set according to a preset phase difference.
- Each waveguide phase shifter pre-sets a phase difference according to the specific technical requirements and the optical wave band of the waveguide phase shifter before the fabrication, and then calculates the required optical path difference according to the phase difference, and then calculates the adjacent two optical paths.
- the length of the heating zone required between the ridge waveguides is poor, and finally the length difference of the highly doped regions corresponding to the adjacent two ridge waveguides is calculated.
- the length of each highly doped region can be designed according to the actual waveguide phase shifter condition and technical requirements.
- the waveguide phase shifter realizes a phase modulation method of unequal-length heating by designing a highly doped region of unequal length, thereby reducing the size of the waveguide phase shifter and improving the range of phase adjustment. And facilitate the integration of the waveguide phase shifter.
- the end of the second metal electrode of the highly doped region is located on the same side of the waveguide array, and correspondingly,
- the second metal electrodes of all the highly doped regions are connected by metal to connect the same power source cathode, thereby obtaining a fifth semiconductor substrate.
- the actual working area is a conductive region between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode, so even if the same length design is adopted when forming a highly doped region, The distance between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode corresponding to the adjacent two highly doped regions satisfies the calculated difference in length between the adjacent two highly doped regions to achieve a preset phase difference.
- a relatively convenient design also places the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode at each end of each highly doped region.
- one end of all the highly doped regions on the fourth semiconductor substrate are located on the same side of the waveguide array, for example, the end of the second metal electrode is located on the same side of the waveguide array, Both metal electrodes are used to connect the cathode of the power supply, so it is also possible to connect all of the second metal electrodes and simultaneously connect them to the cathode of the power supply. Thereby a fifth semiconductor substrate is formed.
- the preparation method provided by the embodiment of the present invention is used to prepare the above-mentioned waveguide phase shifter, and its function and structure are specifically referred to the above embodiments, and details are not described herein again.
- the waveguide phase shifter is made simpler and more convenient by placing one end of the highly doped region on the same side of the waveguide array and connecting all the second metal electrodes.
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Abstract
Description
交叉引用cross reference
本申请引用于2017年09月28日提交的专利名称为“一种波导移相器及其制备方法”的第2017108983230号中国专利申请,其通过引用被全部并入本申请。The present application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in its entirety in its entirety in its entirety in the the the the the the the the the the
本发明实施例涉及光学半导体技术领域,尤其涉及一种波导移相器及其制备方法。Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of optical semiconductor technologies, and in particular, to a waveguide phase shifter and a method for fabricating the same.
激光雷达是以发射激光束探测目标的位置、速度等特征量的雷达系统。其工作原理与微波雷达相似。通过移相器阵列获得等相位间隔的多路激光,从而控制出射光方向并向目标发射探测信号,然后将接收到的从目标反射回来的信号,即目标回波与发射信号进行比较,经过软件处理就能精确获得目标距离、方位、高度、速度、形状等参数,从而对目标进行探测、跟踪和识别。人工智能的发展、自动驾驶、辅助驾驶的兴起,将极大推动激光雷达在民用领域中的应用。A laser radar is a radar system that emits a laser beam to detect the position and velocity of a target. Its working principle is similar to microwave radar. Obtaining an equal-phase-interval multiplexed laser through the phase shifter array, thereby controlling the outgoing light direction and transmitting the detection signal to the target, and then comparing the received signal reflected from the target, that is, the target echo and the transmitted signal, through the software. The target can accurately obtain the target distance, azimuth, altitude, speed, shape and other parameters to detect, track and identify the target. The development of artificial intelligence, automatic driving, and the rise of assisted driving will greatly promote the application of laser radar in the civilian field.
光学移相器阵列能够控制出射光束的角度,是激光雷达的核心部件。目前,光学移相器阵列主要通过以下方式获得:主光路通过MMI结构或星型分束器,将光分成多路,然后通过波导导入移相器阵列。硅波导光学移相器原理:利用硅材料的热光效应,通过设定不同的温度,改变硅波导的折射率,最终实现对光束相位的调控。硅波导热光移相器阵列的调相方式主要采用顶加热金属的方式。其特点是在硅波导和金属间增加一层光学隔离层,通过对金属通电进行加热后,将热传导给波导以达到调相的作用。The optical phase shifter array is capable of controlling the angle of the outgoing beam and is a core component of the laser radar. At present, the optical phase shifter array is mainly obtained by the main optical path passing through the MMI structure or the star beam splitter, dividing the light into multiple paths, and then introducing the phase shifter array through the waveguide. Principle of silicon waveguide optical phase shifter: By using the thermo-optic effect of silicon material, the refractive index of the silicon waveguide is changed by setting different temperatures, and finally the phase adjustment of the beam is realized. The phase modulation mode of the silicon waveguide thermo-optical phase shifter array mainly adopts the method of heating the metal by the top. The utility model is characterized in that an optical isolation layer is added between the silicon waveguide and the metal, and after heating the metal, the heat is conducted to the waveguide to achieve the phase modulation effect.
顶加热金属使得加热效率降低,同时金属不能承受太高温度,相位调节有限,扫描角很小,<3度,难以在实际中应用。The top heating of the metal reduces the heating efficiency, while the metal cannot withstand too high a temperature, the phase adjustment is limited, and the scanning angle is small, <3 degrees, which is difficult to apply in practice.
发明内容Summary of the invention
本发明实施例提供一种波导移相器及其制备方法,用以解决现有技术中利用热光效应的波导移相器,相位调节有限,难以在实际中应用的问题。The embodiment of the invention provides a waveguide phase shifter and a preparation method thereof, which are used to solve the problem that the phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect in the prior art has limited phase adjustment and is difficult to be applied in practice.
一方面,本发明提供了一种波导移相器,包括:In one aspect, the invention provides a waveguide phase shifter comprising:
半导体衬底,所述半导体衬底至少包括衬底层、氧化层和顶层硅层,其中所述氧化层位于所述衬底层和所述顶层硅层的中间,在所述顶层硅层刻蚀出波导阵列,所述波导阵列为至少一条水平排列的脊型波导,并在所述顶层硅层靠近所述脊型波导的水平位置通过离子注入形成与所述脊型波导相对应的至少一条高掺杂区域,在每条高掺杂区域两端上表面分别形成用以连接电源阳极的第一金属电极和用以连接电源阴极的第二金属电极。a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate including at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer, and a top silicon layer, wherein the oxide layer is located between the substrate layer and the top silicon layer, and a waveguide is etched at the top silicon layer An array, the waveguide array being at least one horizontally arranged ridge waveguide, and at least one high doping corresponding to the ridge waveguide is formed by ion implantation at a horizontal position of the top silicon layer adjacent to the ridge waveguide In the region, a first metal electrode for connecting the power source anode and a second metal electrode for connecting the power source cathode are respectively formed on the upper surfaces of each of the highly doped regions.
另一方面,本发明实施例提供了一种制备上述波导移相器的方法,包括:In another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for preparing the waveguide phase shifter described above, including:
获取第一半导体衬底,所述第一半导体衬底至少包括衬底层、氧化层和顶层硅层,其中所述氧化层位于所述衬底层和所述顶层硅层的中间;Acquiring a first semiconductor substrate, the first semiconductor substrate comprising at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer and a top silicon layer, wherein the oxide layer is located intermediate the substrate layer and the top silicon layer;
在所述顶层硅层刻蚀出波导阵列,所述波导阵列为至少一条水平排列的脊型波导,从而得到第二半导体衬底;Etching a waveguide array on the top silicon layer, the waveguide array being at least one horizontally arranged ridge waveguide, thereby obtaining a second semiconductor substrate;
根据预设相位差和每条脊型波导在所述波导阵列中的位置,确定与所述脊型波导相对应的高掺杂区域长度,然后在所述顶层硅层靠近所述脊型波导的水平位置通过离子注入形成与所述脊型波导相对应的至少一条高掺杂区域,从而得到第三半导体衬底;Determining a length of a highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide according to a preset phase difference and a position of each ridge waveguide in the waveguide array, and then approaching the ridge waveguide in the top silicon layer Forming at least one highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide by ion implantation to obtain a third semiconductor substrate;
在所述第三半导体衬底的每条高掺杂区域两端上表面分别形成用以连接电源阳极的第一金属电极和用以连接电源阴极的第二金属电极,从而得到第四半导体衬底。Forming a first metal electrode for connecting the power source anode and a second metal electrode for connecting the power source cathode to the upper surface of each of the highly doped regions of the third semiconductor substrate, thereby obtaining a fourth semiconductor substrate .
本发明实施例提供的波导移相器及其制备方法,通过对在所述脊型波导边上设置高掺杂区域,然后通过对所述高掺杂区域通电加热以达到对所述脊型波导加热的目的,从而实现对通过所述脊型波导的光波的相位调制。这种集成型边加热的波导移相器方案,提高了对脊型波导的加热效率,采用简单的结构,就实现了光子传输和载流子输运路线空间的彻底分离,有效降低了载流子吸收损耗、波导的弯曲损耗以及其它潜在的光学损耗,并且该结构对工艺精度要求低,成品率高。采用所述波导移相器的激光雷 达就能够实现大角度、高精度扫描功能。A waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method for fabricating the same, by providing a highly doped region on a side of the ridge waveguide, and then heating the highly doped region to achieve the ridge waveguide The purpose of heating is to achieve phase modulation of the light waves passing through the ridge waveguide. The integrated edge-heated waveguide phase shifter solution improves the heating efficiency of the ridge waveguide, and adopts a simple structure to completely separate the photon transmission and the carrier transport path space, thereby effectively reducing the current carrying current. Sub-absorption losses, waveguide bending losses, and other potential optical losses, and the structure requires low process accuracy and high yield. The laser radar using the waveguide phase shifter enables a high-angle, high-precision scanning function.
图1为本发明实施例的波导移相器结构示意图;1 is a schematic structural view of a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention;
图2为本发明实施例的制备波导移相器的方法流程示意图;2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention;
图3为本发明实施例的第一半导体衬底结构示意图;3 is a schematic structural view of a first semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention;
图4为本发明实施例的第二半导体衬底结构示意图;4 is a schematic structural view of a second semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention;
图5为本发明实施例的第三半导体衬底结构示意图;FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a third semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
图6为本发明实施例的第四半导体衬底结构示意图。FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a fourth semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
为使本发明实施例的目的、技术方案和优点更加清楚,下面将结合本发明实施例中的附图,对本发明实施例中的技术方案进行清楚、完整地描述,显然,所描述的实施例是本发明一部分实施例,而不是全部的实施例。基于本发明中的实施例,本领域普通技术人员在没有作出创造性劳动前提下所获得的所有其他实施例,都属于本发明保护的范围。The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is a partial embodiment of the invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.
图1为本发明实施例的波导移相器结构示意图,如图1所示,包括:FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
半导体衬底,所述半导体衬底至少包括衬底层、氧化层和顶层硅层10,其中所述氧化层位于所述衬底层和所述顶层硅层10的中间,在所述顶层硅层10刻蚀出波导阵列,所述波导阵列为至少一条水平排列的脊型波导11,并在所述顶层硅层靠近所述脊型波导11的水平位置通过离子注入形成与所述脊型波导11相对应的至少一条高掺杂区域12,在每条高掺杂区域12两端上表面分别形成用以连接电源阳极的第一金属电极13和用以连接电源阴极的第二金属电极14。a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate including at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer, and a
波导移相器是用来改变通过的光波相位的一种光学器件,例如将波导移相器应用到激光雷达时,将波导移相器集成到分束器后面,从而使光波在通过分束器分为多条同相位的光波后,分别通过波导移相器不同的波导来进行相位调制,然后将不同相位的光波通过接在波导移相器后面的光学天线进行发送以实现雷达的部分功能。A waveguide phase shifter is an optical device used to change the phase of a passing light wave. For example, when a waveguide phase shifter is applied to a laser radar, a waveguide phase shifter is integrated behind the beam splitter, so that the light wave passes through the beam splitter. After being divided into a plurality of optical waves of the same phase, phase modulation is performed by different waveguides of the waveguide phase shifter, and then light waves of different phases are transmitted through an optical antenna connected behind the waveguide phase shifter to realize part of the function of the radar.
本发明实施例的波导移相器通过热光效应来对通过的光波进行相位调制,通过对光波通过的脊型波导11进行加热,从而改变所述脊型波导 11的折射率,进而对光波的相位进行调制。所述波导移相器被集成在一块半导体衬底上,其中所述半导体衬底可以采用最为常用的SOI衬底,所述SOI衬底由下至上分为三层,分别为衬底层、氧化层和顶层硅层10,其中所述移相器的主要元件都位于顶层硅层10,其顶层硅层10的厚度可根据实际的需要来进行制作,例如为220~500nm。The waveguide phase shifter of the embodiment of the present invention phase-modulates the passing light wave by a thermo-optic effect, and heats the ridge-
进一步地,所述半导体衬底的顶层硅层为本征硅。Further, the top silicon layer of the semiconductor substrate is intrinsic silicon.
所述顶层硅层的材料为本征硅,从而在获得良好的导光性能和高电阻性能,其中所述本征硅的电阻率为100000Ω-1Ω/厘米。The material of the top silicon layer is intrinsic silicon, thereby obtaining good light guiding properties and high electrical resistance properties, wherein the intrinsic silicon has a resistivity of 100000 Ω - 1 Ω / cm.
在所述顶层硅层通过刻蚀等方法,形成波导阵列,其中所述波导阵列为一排水平排列的脊型波导11,即其刻蚀深度并不会刻蚀掉整层的顶层硅层10,例如70~200nm。所述脊型波导11的数量可以根据具体的需求来进行调整,例如在激光雷达中所述脊型波导11的数量与所述波导移相器之前的分束器所输出的同相位光波数量相对应。Forming a waveguide array by etching or the like on the top silicon layer, wherein the waveguide array is a row of horizontally arranged
为了对所述脊型波导11中的光波进行相位调制,就需要对所述脊型波导11进行加热处理。在所述顶层硅层靠近每条脊型波导11的水平位置,注入离子,所述离子可以是硼、磷等,实现硅N型或P型的掺杂,从而在每条脊型波导11两边的水平位置形成至少一条高掺杂区域12。所述高掺杂区域12的位置可以在脊型波导的任意一边,也可以在所述脊型波导的两边都设置等长度的高掺杂区域12,为了表述方便,在下面的实施例中,都只以在每条脊型波导11一边形成一条高掺杂区域12的情况为例。所述高掺杂区域12的电阻率相较于本征硅会大大降低,其电阻率为0.00001Ω-1Ω/厘米。In order to phase-modulate the light waves in the
然后在每条高掺杂区域12两端上表面分别形成用以连接电源阳极的第一金属电极13和用以连接电源阴极的第二金属电极14。当在所述第一金属电极13和所述第二金属电极14分别连接相应的电源阳极和阴极后,就会在所述高掺杂区域上形成电流。再由于所述本征硅的电阻率相对高掺杂区域12要高很多,所以,不会有电流流入脊型波导11中,而光波主要限制在所述脊型波导11中,从而实现了光波传输和电子传输路线的空间分离,降低了光波传输的损耗。Then, a
进一步地,所述高掺杂区域12的工作温度由与所述高掺杂区域12的 第一金属电极13相连的所述电源阳极输入功率来控制。Further, the operating temperature of the highly
所述高掺杂区域12在流经电流的过程中会发热,并最终达到一个稳定的工作温度,所述工作温度由通过第一金属电极13相连的阳极的输入功率来进行控制。具体的输入功率需要先根据实际的情况,例如根据高掺杂区域12和脊型波导11的长度、光波所需要调整的相位量以及所述高掺杂区域12的掺杂浓度等参数来进行计算并实际调整。发热的高掺杂区域12会将热量通过顶层硅层10传送给脊型波导11,从而实现脊型波导11的加热,进一步对脊型波导11中通过的光波进行相位调整。The highly doped
本发明实施例的波导移相器通过在所述脊型波导11边上设置高掺杂区域12,然后通过对所述高掺杂区域12通电加热以达到对所述脊型波导11加热的目的,从而实现对通过所述脊型波导11的光波的相位调制,提高了对脊型波导11的加热效率,并提高了相位的调节范围,同时实现了应用所述波导移相器的激光雷达大角度、高精度扫描功能。The waveguide phase shifter of the embodiment of the present invention achieves the purpose of heating the
基于上述实施例,进一步地,如图1所示,所述波导阵列中所有脊型波导11所对应的高掺杂区域12的长度按所述脊型波导11在所述波导阵列中水平排列的顺序递增或递减。Based on the above embodiment, further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lengths of the highly
利用热光效应的波导移相器的相位调制方式有很多种,其中最主要的有两种,一种为等长度加热波导,另一种为不等长加热波导。其中所述等长度加热波导,即所有高掺杂区域12的长度相等,通过分别调节对每条高掺杂区域12的输入功率来控制每条高掺杂区域12的工作温度,利用脊型波导11加热的温度差来进行不同的相位调制。此方法虽然制作工艺上会相对较为简单,但由于所述高掺杂区域间存在温度差,所以需要克服每条脊型波导11相对应的高掺杂区域12对相邻脊型波导加热温度的影响。此时就需要在每条脊型波导11间通过加入隔热层,或增加间距来实现热隔离,从而导致相邻两对脊型波导11和高掺杂区域12之间间距可能大于100μm以上,且移相器中的元件数量也会呈指数上升,使得波导移相器的尺寸变大不利于集成。There are many kinds of phase modulation methods for the waveguide phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect, and the most important ones are two, one is an equal length heating waveguide, and the other is a unequal length heating waveguide. Wherein the equal length heating waveguides, that is, the lengths of all the highly
另一种不等长加热波导,则是通过设计不等长的高掺杂区域12,使得脊型波导11的加热区域的长度随着高掺杂区域12的长度而变化,利用脊型波导11加热的长度不同来进行不同的相位调制,而所述脊型波导11的 加热温度可以认为相同或者近似相同。由于脊型波导11的加热温度相同,所以可以相对将所述脊型波导11的间距缩短,例如相邻两对脊型波导11和高掺杂区域12之间的间距为5μm即可实现不等长加热。相对于等长度加热波导,采用不等长加热的波导移相器的尺寸大大缩小了,从而利于集成。相同的加热温度也意味着,可以通过调节加热的温度来具体调节相位,而由于不存在温度差,可知所能调节的范围大于与等长度加热波导,以实现激光雷达的大角度、高精度扫描功能。为了表述方便和提高集成的性能,在下面的实施例中,都采用不等长加热波导为所述波导移相器的相位调制方式。Another type of unequal length heating waveguide is to design a highly doped
由于所述脊型波导11的相位调节不同,所以在设置与所述脊型波导11相对应的高掺杂区域12的长度时,也会各不相同。为了制作的方便,可以将所述高掺杂区域12的长度按需求来进行排序,从而使得在波导阵列中的高掺杂区域12的长度按顺序递增或递减。Since the phase adjustment of the
进一步地,所述波导阵列中相邻两条脊型波导11所对应的所述高掺杂区域12的长度差根据预设相位差设置。Further, a difference in length of the highly doped
每个波导移相器在进行制作前都会根据具体的技术需求以及通过波导移相器的光波波段预设一个相位差,然后再根据相位差来计算需要的光程差,再算得相邻两条脊型波导11之间所需要的加热区长度差,最后再计算所述相邻两条脊型波导11所对应的所述高掺杂区域12的长度差。在得到相邻高掺杂区域12的长度差后就可以根据实际波导移相器情况以及技术需求来设计每条高掺杂区域12的长度。Each waveguide phase shifter pre-sets a phase difference according to the specific technical requirements and the optical wave band of the waveguide phase shifter before the fabrication, and then calculates the required optical path difference according to the phase difference, and then calculates the adjacent two optical paths. The length of the heating zone required between the
本发明实施例,所述波导移相器通过设计不等长的高掺杂区域12来实现不等长加热的相位调制方式,从而减小了波导移相器的尺寸,提高了相位调节的范围,并利于波导移相器的集成。In the embodiment of the present invention, the waveguide phase shifter realizes a phase modulation mode of unequal-length heating by designing a highly doped
基于上述实施例,进一步地,所述波导移相器上所有高掺杂区域的第二金属电极所在端均位于与所述波导阵列的同一侧,并将所有第二金属电极相连用以连接到相同的电源阴极。Based on the above embodiment, further, the ends of the second metal electrodes of all the highly doped regions on the waveguide phase shifter are located on the same side of the waveguide array, and all the second metal electrodes are connected to be connected to The same power cathode.
在根据预设的相位差获取相邻两条高掺杂区域的长度差,并设计相邻两条高掺杂区域的长度后,对于每条高掺杂区域的位置设计方法其实有很多种。对于高掺杂区域而言,其实际的工作区域为第一金属电极和第二金 属电极之间的导电区域,所以,即使在形成高掺杂区域时采用了相同的长度设计,也可以通过使相邻两条高掺杂区域相对应的第一金属电极和第二金属电极之间的距离满足所述计算所得的相邻两条高掺杂区域的长度差来实现预设相位差。当然在这些设计中,相对方便的设计还是将第一金属电极和第二金属电极设置在每条高掺杂区域的两端。并且,将所述波导移相器上所有高掺杂区域的其中一端位于所述波导阵列的同一侧,例如将第二金属电极所在端位于所述波导阵列同一侧,此时由于所述第二金属电极均用于连接电源的阴极,所以还可以将所有的第二金属电极相连,并同时连接到电源的阴极。After the length difference between two adjacent highly doped regions is acquired according to the preset phase difference, and the lengths of two adjacent highly doped regions are designed, there are many methods for designing the position of each highly doped region. For a highly doped region, the actual working area is a conductive region between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode, so even if the same length design is adopted when forming a highly doped region, The distance between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode corresponding to the adjacent two highly doped regions satisfies the calculated difference in length between the adjacent two highly doped regions to achieve a preset phase difference. Of course, in these designs, a relatively convenient design also places the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode at each end of each highly doped region. And, one end of all highly doped regions on the waveguide phase shifter is located on the same side of the waveguide array, for example, the end of the second metal electrode is located on the same side of the waveguide array, at this time due to the second The metal electrodes are all used to connect the cathode of the power supply, so it is also possible to connect all of the second metal electrodes and simultaneously connect them to the cathode of the power supply.
本发明实施例,通过将所述高掺杂区域的一端位于所述波导阵列的同一侧,并连接所有的第二金属电极,使所述波导移相器的制作更为简单方便。In the embodiment of the invention, the waveguide phase shifter is made simpler and more convenient by placing one end of the highly doped region on the same side of the waveguide array and connecting all the second metal electrodes.
图2为本发明实施例的制备波导移相器的方法流程示意图,图3为本发明实施例的第一半导体衬底结构示意图,图4为本发明实施例的第二半导体衬底结构示意图,图5为本发明实施例的第三半导体衬底结构示意图,图6为本发明实施例的第四半导体衬底结构示意图,如图2所示,所述方法包括:2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing a waveguide phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a first semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a second semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention; 5 is a schematic structural view of a third semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth semiconductor substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes:
步骤S01,获取第一半导体衬底,所述第一半导体衬底至少包括衬底层、氧化层和顶层硅层,其中所述氧化层位于所述衬底层和所述顶层硅层的中间;Step S01, acquiring a first semiconductor substrate, the first semiconductor substrate comprising at least a substrate layer, an oxide layer and a top silicon layer, wherein the oxide layer is located between the substrate layer and the top silicon layer;
波导移相器是用来改变通过的光波相位的一种光学器件,被集成在一块半导体衬底上,其中所述半导体衬底可以采用最为常用的SOI衬底,所述SOI衬底由下至上分为三层,分别为衬底层30、氧化层20和顶层硅层10,其中所述移相器的主要元件都位于顶层硅层10,其顶层硅层10的厚度可根据实际的需要来进行制作,例如为220~500nm。A waveguide phase shifter is an optical device for changing the phase of a light wave passing through, and is integrated on a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate can employ the most commonly used SOI substrate from bottom to top. Divided into three layers, respectively, a
进一步地,所述半导体衬底的顶层硅层10为本征硅。Further, the
所述顶层硅层的材料为本征硅,从而在获得良好的导光性能和高电阻性能,其中所述本征硅的电阻率为100000Ω-1Ω/厘米。The material of the top silicon layer is intrinsic silicon, thereby obtaining good light guiding properties and high electrical resistance properties, wherein the intrinsic silicon has a resistivity of 100000 Ω - 1 Ω / cm.
步骤S02,在所述顶层硅层刻蚀出波导阵列,所述波导阵列为至少一条水平排列的脊型波导,从而得到第二半导体衬底;Step S02, etching a waveguide array in the top silicon layer, the waveguide array is at least one horizontally arranged ridge waveguide, thereby obtaining a second semiconductor substrate;
在所述第一半导体衬底的顶层硅层10通过光刻和刻蚀等常规半导体工艺形成波导阵列,其中所述波导阵列为一排水平排列的脊型波导11,即其刻蚀深度并不会刻蚀掉整层的顶层硅层10,例如70~200nm。所述脊型波导11的数量可以根据具体的需求来进行调整,例如在激光雷达中所述脊型波导11的数量与所述波导移相器之前的分束器所输出的光波数量相对应。从而得到第二半导体衬底。Forming a waveguide array on a
步骤S03,根据预设相位差和每条脊型波导在所述波导阵列中的位置,确定与所述脊型波导相对应的高掺杂区域长度,然后在所述顶层硅层靠近所述脊型波导的水平位置通过离子注入形成与所述脊型波导相对应的至少一条高掺杂区域,从而得到第三半导体衬底;Step S03, determining a length of the highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide according to a preset phase difference and a position of each ridge waveguide in the waveguide array, and then approaching the ridge in the top silicon layer a horizontal position of the waveguide is formed by ion implantation to form at least one highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide, thereby obtaining a third semiconductor substrate;
为了对所述脊型波导11中的光波进行相位调制,就需要对所述脊型波导11进行加热处理。在所述第二半导体衬底的顶层硅层靠近每条脊型波导11的水平位置,采用光刻、离子注入以及退火等常规半导体工艺在每条脊型波导11两边的水平位置形成至少一条高掺杂区域12,其中所述离子可以是硼、磷等,实现硅N型或P型的掺杂。从而得到第三半导体衬底。所述高掺杂区域12的位置可以在脊型波导的任意一边,也可以在所述脊型波导的两边都设置等长度的高掺杂区域12,为了表述方便,在下面的实施例中,都只以在每条脊型波导11一边形成一条高掺杂区域12的情况为例。所述高掺杂区域12的电阻率相较于本征硅会大大降低,其电阻率为0.00001Ω-1Ω/厘米。In order to phase-modulate the light waves in the
步骤S04,在所述第三半导体衬底的每条高掺杂区域两端上表面分别形成用以连接电源阳极的第一金属电极和用以连接电源阴极的第二金属电极,从而得到第四半导体衬底。Step S04, forming a first metal electrode for connecting the power source anode and a second metal electrode for connecting the power source cathode on the upper surfaces of each of the highly doped regions of the third semiconductor substrate, thereby obtaining a fourth Semiconductor substrate.
在第三半导体衬底的每条高掺杂区域12两端上表面分别采用光刻、沉积金属和剥离等工艺形成用以连接电源阳极的第一金属电极13和用以连接电源阴极的第二金属电极14。从而得到第四半导体衬底。当在所述第一金属电极13和所述第二金属电极14分别连接相应的电源阳极和阴极后,就会在所述高掺杂区域上形成电流。再由于所述本征硅的电阻率相对高掺杂区域12要高很多,所以,不会有电流流入脊型波导11中,而光波主要限制在所述脊型波导11中,从而实现了光波传输和电子传输路线的 空间分离,降低了光波传输的损耗。Forming a
进一步地,所述高掺杂区域12的工作温度由与所述高掺杂区域12的第一金属电极13相连的所述电源阳极输入功率来控制。Further, the operating temperature of the highly doped
所述高掺杂区域12在流经电流的过程中会发热,并最终达到一个稳定的工作温度,所述工作温度由通过第一金属电极13相连的阳极的输入功率来进行控制。具体的输入功率需要先根据实际的情况,例如根据高掺杂区域12和脊型波导11的长度、光波所需要调整的相位量以及所述高掺杂区域12的掺杂浓度等参数来进行计算并实际调整。发热的高掺杂区域12会将热量通过顶层硅层10传送给脊型波导11,从而实现脊型波导11的加热,进一步对脊型波导11中通过的光波进行相位调整。The highly doped
本发明实施例提供的制备方法用于制备上述波导移相器,其功能和结构具体参考上述实施例,此处不再赘述。The preparation method provided by the embodiment of the present invention is used to prepare the above-mentioned waveguide phase shifter, and its function and structure are specifically referred to the above embodiments, and details are not described herein again.
本发明实施例的波导移相器通过在所述脊型波导11边上设置高掺杂区域12,然后通过对所述高掺杂区域12通电加热以达到对所述脊型波导11加热的目的,从而实现对通过所述脊型波导11的光波的相位调制,提高了对脊型波导11的加热效率,并提高了相位的调节范围,同时实现了应用所述波导移相器的激光雷达大角度、高精度扫描功能。The waveguide phase shifter of the embodiment of the present invention achieves the purpose of heating the
基于上述实施例,进一步地,所述波导阵列中所有脊型波导所对应的高掺杂区域的长度按所述脊型波导在所述波导阵列中水平排列的顺序递增或递减。Based on the above embodiments, further, the lengths of the highly doped regions corresponding to all the ridge waveguides in the waveguide array are increased or decreased in the order in which the ridge waveguides are horizontally arranged in the waveguide array.
利用热光效应的波导移相器的相位调制方式有很多种,其中最主要的有两种,一种为等长度加热波导,另一种为不等长加热波导。其中所述等长度加热波导,即所有高掺杂区域的长度相等,通过分别调节每条高掺杂区域的工作温度,利用脊型波导加热的温度差来进行不同的相位调制。由于所述高掺杂区域间存在温度差,所以需要克服每条脊型波导相对应的高掺杂区域对相邻脊型波导加热温度的影响。此时就需要在每条脊型波导间通过加入隔热层,或增加间距来实现热隔离,从而导致相邻两对脊型波导和高掺杂区域之间间距可能大于100μm以上,且移相器中的元件数量也会呈指数上升,使得波导移相器的尺寸变大不利于集成。There are many kinds of phase modulation methods for the waveguide phase shifter using the thermo-optic effect, and the most important ones are two, one is an equal length heating waveguide, and the other is a unequal length heating waveguide. Wherein the equal length heating waveguides, that is, the lengths of all the highly doped regions are equal, different phase modulation is performed by adjusting the operating temperature of each highly doped region by using the temperature difference of the ridge waveguide heating. Due to the temperature difference between the highly doped regions, it is necessary to overcome the influence of the highly doped region corresponding to each ridge waveguide on the heating temperature of the adjacent ridge waveguide. At this time, it is necessary to achieve thermal isolation by adding a heat insulating layer or increasing the pitch between each ridge waveguide, thereby causing the spacing between adjacent two pairs of ridge waveguides and highly doped regions to be more than 100 μm or more, and phase shifting. The number of components in the device also rises exponentially, making the size of the waveguide phase shifter larger is not conducive to integration.
另一种不等长加热波导,则是通过设计不等长的高掺杂区域,使得脊 型波导的加热区域的长度随着高掺杂区域的长度而变化,利用脊型波导加热的长度不同来进行不同的相位调制,而所述脊型波导的加热温度可以认为相同或者近似相同。由于脊型波导的加热温度相同,所以可以相对将所述脊型波导的间距缩短,例如相邻两对脊型波导和高掺杂区域之间的间距为5μm即可实现不等长加热。相对于等长度加热波导,采用不等长加热的波导移相器的尺寸大大缩小了,从而利于集成。相同的加热温度也意味着,可以通过调节加热的温度来具体调节相位,而由于不存在温度差,可知所能调节的范围大于与等长度加热波导,以实现激光雷达的大角度、高精度扫描功能。为了表述方便和提高集成的性能,在下面的实施例中,都采用不等长加热波导为所述波导移相器的相位调制方式。Another type of unequal-length heating waveguide is to design a highly doped region of unequal length such that the length of the heating region of the ridge waveguide varies with the length of the highly doped region, and the length of heating by the ridge waveguide is different. Different phase modulations are performed, and the heating temperatures of the ridge waveguides may be considered to be the same or approximately the same. Since the heating temperature of the ridge waveguide is the same, the pitch of the ridge waveguide can be shortened relatively, for example, the distance between adjacent two pairs of ridge waveguides and the highly doped region is 5 μm, thereby achieving unequal length heating. Compared to the equal length heating waveguide, the size of the waveguide phase shifter using unequal length heating is greatly reduced, thereby facilitating integration. The same heating temperature also means that the phase can be specifically adjusted by adjusting the heating temperature, and since there is no temperature difference, it can be known that the range that can be adjusted is larger than that of the equal length heating waveguide to realize the high-angle scanning of the laser radar. Features. In order to express convenience and improve integration performance, in the following embodiments, the unequal length heating waveguide is used as the phase modulation mode of the waveguide phase shifter.
由于所述脊型波导的相位调节不同,所以在设置与所述脊型波导相对应的高掺杂区域的长度时,也会各不相同。为了制作的方便,可以将所述高掺杂区域的长度按需求来进行排序,从而使得在波导阵列中的高掺杂区域的长度按顺序递增或递减。Since the phase adjustment of the ridge waveguide is different, the length of the highly doped region corresponding to the ridge waveguide is also different. For ease of fabrication, the length of the highly doped regions can be ordered as desired such that the length of the highly doped regions in the waveguide array is sequentially incremented or decremented.
进一步地,所述波导阵列中相邻两条脊型波导所对应的所述高掺杂区域的长度差根据预设相位差设置。Further, a length difference of the highly doped regions corresponding to adjacent two ridge waveguides in the waveguide array is set according to a preset phase difference.
每个波导移相器在进行制作前都会根据具体的技术需求以及通过波导移相器的光波波段预设一个相位差,然后再根据相位差来计算需要的光程差,再算得相邻两条脊型波导之间所需要的加热区长度差,最后再计算所述相邻两条脊型波导所对应的所述高掺杂区域的长度差。在得到相邻高掺杂区域的长度差后就可以根据实际波导移相器情况以及技术需求来设计每条高掺杂区域的长度。Each waveguide phase shifter pre-sets a phase difference according to the specific technical requirements and the optical wave band of the waveguide phase shifter before the fabrication, and then calculates the required optical path difference according to the phase difference, and then calculates the adjacent two optical paths. The length of the heating zone required between the ridge waveguides is poor, and finally the length difference of the highly doped regions corresponding to the adjacent two ridge waveguides is calculated. After obtaining the difference in length between adjacent highly doped regions, the length of each highly doped region can be designed according to the actual waveguide phase shifter condition and technical requirements.
本发明实施例,所述波导移相器通过设计不等长的高掺杂区域来实现不等长加热的相位调制方式,从而减小了波导移相器的尺寸,提高了相位调节的范围,并利于波导移相器的集成。In the embodiment of the present invention, the waveguide phase shifter realizes a phase modulation method of unequal-length heating by designing a highly doped region of unequal length, thereby reducing the size of the waveguide phase shifter and improving the range of phase adjustment. And facilitate the integration of the waveguide phase shifter.
基于上述实施例,进一步地,所述高掺杂区域的第二金属电极所在端均位于所述波导阵列的同一侧,相应地,Based on the above embodiment, further, the end of the second metal electrode of the highly doped region is located on the same side of the waveguide array, and correspondingly,
在所述第四半导体衬底的基础上将所有高掺杂区域的第二金属电极用金属连接用以连接相同的电源阴极,从而得到第五半导体衬底。On the basis of the fourth semiconductor substrate, the second metal electrodes of all the highly doped regions are connected by metal to connect the same power source cathode, thereby obtaining a fifth semiconductor substrate.
在根据预设的相位差获取相邻两条高掺杂区域的长度差,并设计相邻 两条高掺杂区域的长度后,对于每条高掺杂区域的位置设计方法其实有很多种。对于高掺杂区域而言,其实际的工作区域为第一金属电极和第二金属电极之间的导电区域,所以,即使在形成高掺杂区域时采用了相同的长度设计,也可以通过使相邻两条高掺杂区域相对应的第一金属电极和第二金属电极之间的距离满足所述计算所得的相邻两条高掺杂区域的长度差来实现预设相位差。当然在这些设计中,相对方便的设计还是将第一金属电极和第二金属电极设置在每条高掺杂区域的两端。并且,将所述第四半导体衬底上所有高掺杂区域的其中一端位于所述波导阵列的同一侧,例如将第二金属电极所在端位于所述波导阵列同一侧,此时由于所述第二金属电极均用于连接电源的阴极,所以还可以将所有的第二金属电极相连,并同时连接到电源的阴极。从而形成第五半导体衬底。After the length difference between two adjacent highly doped regions is obtained according to the preset phase difference, and the lengths of two adjacent highly doped regions are designed, there are many methods for designing the position of each highly doped region. For a highly doped region, the actual working area is a conductive region between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode, so even if the same length design is adopted when forming a highly doped region, The distance between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode corresponding to the adjacent two highly doped regions satisfies the calculated difference in length between the adjacent two highly doped regions to achieve a preset phase difference. Of course, in these designs, a relatively convenient design also places the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode at each end of each highly doped region. And, one end of all the highly doped regions on the fourth semiconductor substrate are located on the same side of the waveguide array, for example, the end of the second metal electrode is located on the same side of the waveguide array, Both metal electrodes are used to connect the cathode of the power supply, so it is also possible to connect all of the second metal electrodes and simultaneously connect them to the cathode of the power supply. Thereby a fifth semiconductor substrate is formed.
本发明实施例提供的制备方法用于制备上述波导移相器,其功能和结构具体参考上述实施例,此处不再赘述。The preparation method provided by the embodiment of the present invention is used to prepare the above-mentioned waveguide phase shifter, and its function and structure are specifically referred to the above embodiments, and details are not described herein again.
本发明实施例,通过将所述高掺杂区域的一端位于所述波导阵列的同一侧,并连接所有的第二金属电极,使所述波导移相器的制作更为简单方便。In the embodiment of the invention, the waveguide phase shifter is made simpler and more convenient by placing one end of the highly doped region on the same side of the waveguide array and connecting all the second metal electrodes.
最后应说明的是:以上实施例仅用以说明本发明的技术方案,而非对其限制;尽管参照前述实施例对本发明进行了详细的说明,本领域的普通技术人员应当理解:其依然可以对前述各实施例所记载的技术方案进行修改,或者对其中部分技术特征进行等同替换;而这些修改或者替换,并不使相应技术方案的本质脱离本发明各实施例技术方案的精神和范围。It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not limited thereto; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that The technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments are modified, or the equivalents of the technical features are replaced. The modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.
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| CN111147147B (en) * | 2019-12-27 | 2021-03-16 | 武汉邮电科学研究院有限公司 | Wireless communication system and method based on phased array |
| CN111624791B (en) * | 2020-07-02 | 2025-04-25 | 联合微电子中心有限责任公司 | Thermo-optic phase shifter, thermo-optic phase shifter network and optoelectronic device |
| CN114995212A (en) * | 2022-04-26 | 2022-09-02 | 扬州大学 | A phased array drive circuit based on master-slave control and its drive method |
| CN116560116B (en) * | 2023-01-12 | 2024-04-02 | 上海铭锟半导体有限公司 | Thermo-optic phase shifter, method for manufacturing thermo-optic phase shifter, and thermo-optic phase shifter array |
| CN116047793B (en) * | 2023-04-03 | 2023-07-04 | 众瑞速联(武汉)科技有限公司 | Dual-channel thermo-optical phase shifter and optical chip |
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| WO2008111407A1 (en) * | 2007-03-09 | 2008-09-18 | Nec Corporation | Thermo-optical phase shifter |
| CN101529312A (en) * | 2006-10-20 | 2009-09-09 | 日本电气株式会社 | Thermo-optic phase shifter and method for manufacturing the same |
| CN102763264A (en) * | 2012-03-14 | 2012-10-31 | 华为技术有限公司 | Phase shifter, coupler and methods for their production |
| CN103018929A (en) * | 2012-12-05 | 2013-04-03 | 上海交通大学 | Silicon waveguide refractive index calorescence adjusting structure |
| CN104991399A (en) * | 2015-07-13 | 2015-10-21 | 上海交通大学 | Structure reducing micro cavity thermal-optical bistable state power threshold via photoresistance feedback |
| WO2015157963A1 (en) * | 2014-04-17 | 2015-10-22 | 华为技术有限公司 | Thermo-optic phase shifter |
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| US5093740A (en) * | 1991-02-28 | 1992-03-03 | Raytheon Company | Optical beam steerer having subaperture addressing |
| JP3527431B2 (en) * | 1999-03-01 | 2004-05-17 | 日本電信電話株式会社 | Array optical waveguide thermo-optic phase shifter, array optical waveguide grating tunable filter, and array optical waveguide optical switch |
| JP2016057341A (en) * | 2014-09-05 | 2016-04-21 | 日本電信電話株式会社 | Optical switch |
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- 2017-09-28 CN CN201710898323.0A patent/CN109581696A/en active Pending
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101529312A (en) * | 2006-10-20 | 2009-09-09 | 日本电气株式会社 | Thermo-optic phase shifter and method for manufacturing the same |
| WO2008111407A1 (en) * | 2007-03-09 | 2008-09-18 | Nec Corporation | Thermo-optical phase shifter |
| CN102763264A (en) * | 2012-03-14 | 2012-10-31 | 华为技术有限公司 | Phase shifter, coupler and methods for their production |
| CN103018929A (en) * | 2012-12-05 | 2013-04-03 | 上海交通大学 | Silicon waveguide refractive index calorescence adjusting structure |
| WO2015157963A1 (en) * | 2014-04-17 | 2015-10-22 | 华为技术有限公司 | Thermo-optic phase shifter |
| CN104991399A (en) * | 2015-07-13 | 2015-10-21 | 上海交通大学 | Structure reducing micro cavity thermal-optical bistable state power threshold via photoresistance feedback |
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| CN109581696A (en) | 2019-04-05 |
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