US 12,481,181 B2
Thermo-optic phase shifter systems and methods
Xue Huang, Maynard, MA (US); and Leonard Ketelsen, Maynard, MA (US)
Assigned to Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/114,761.
Prior Publication US 2024/0288717 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. G02F 1/01 (2006.01); G02F 1/21 (2006.01); G02F 1/225 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/0147 (2013.01) [G02F 1/212 (2021.01); G02F 1/225 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An opto-electrical system comprising:
a waveguide defining an optical input and an optical output;
a thermo-optic phase shifter (TOPS) comprising:
a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and
a resistive heater in electrical communication with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact,
the TOPS configured to change a first phase of light entering the optical input to a second phase for light exiting the optical output,
the TOPS having a resistance RTOPS,
the TOPS in thermal communication with the waveguide;
a voltage source in electrical communication with the first electrical contact; and
a resistor comprising a first end and a second end, the resistor having a resistance Rs, wherein the first end is grounded, wherein the second end is in electrical communication with the second electrical contact, wherein the resistor is a variable resistor and Rs is a variable resistance.