Analytical microring stereo system using coupled mode theory and application

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical engineering
• Micro-optics and nanophotonics

Background:

• Conventional stereo technology faces limitations in cost and size.
• Microscale active stereo systems are needed for advanced 3D applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and investigate a novel microscale active stereo system using cascaded Panda resonators.
• To explore the system's capability for generating three-dimensional (3D) content.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of optical transfer functions using coupled mode theory.
• Investigation of system feasibility by varying coupling coefficients and materials.
• Analysis of the effect of a 3x3 coupler on output light.

Main Results:

• Adjusting coupling coefficients and refractive index enables wavelength and intensity shifts.
• A change in the 3x3 coupler shifts light transmission by 0.1 to 37 dB.
• A refractive index change of $\delta n = 0.01$ generates a phase shift > $\pi /{4}$π/4, crucial for depth reconstruction.

Conclusions:

• The proposed Panda stereo system is feasible for 3D content generation.
• The system offers advantages in low cost, microsize, structural simplicity, and broad wavelength operation.
• This technology presents a promising alternative to conventional stereo methods.