Sony patents chip design that heats light paths for better distance measurement
Sony describes a semiconductor device that combines a silicon photonics layer with a supporting substrate. It features a metal film placed between the light-carrying waveguide and the base, which acts as a heater to adjust the waveguide's properties.
In the filing’s own words
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present embodiment includes a stack including a silicon photonics layer and a supporting substrate that are bonded to each other. The silicon photonics layer includes a waveguide through which an optical signal is transmitted and a metal film disposed to be opposed to the supporting substrate with the waveguide interposed therebetween. The metal film includes a heater layer configured to serve as a heater for the waveguide.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A semiconductor device comprising a stack including a silicon photonics layer and a supporting substrate that are bonded to each other, wherein the silicon photonics layer includes a waveguide through which an optical signal is transmitted, and a first metal film disposed to be opposed to the supporting substrate with the waveguide interposed therebetween, and the first metal film includes a first heater layer configured to serve as a heater for the waveguide.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- RANGING DEVICE
- Publication number
- US20260276814A1
- Application number
- 19167407
- Filed
- Feb 16, 2024
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 14
Classified under
G01S 17/08 Physics & computingG01S 7/4811 Physics & computingG02B 6/12004 Physics & computingG02F 1/0147 Physics & computingH05B 3/283 Electricity & electronicsH05B 3/86 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.