Reconfigurable thin film filter for compensating AOI deviation effects using LC coupled cavities

Abstract

An efficient technique to enhance thin-film filters’ angular tolerance is described and numerically demonstrated. The spacer refractive index is controlled using a liquid crystal (LC) in the multi-cavity thin-film filter. The angle of incident (AOI) deviation causes significant degradation in the filter performance. To circumvent the influence of the AOI deviation, a correction effect is introduced through controlling the LC refractive index, while maintaining the normal incident performance of the filter. The proposed LC-based approach has proven effective in increasing the angular tolerance of the thin-film filter. Simulation results indicate an angle-insensitive performance under a 20o incident angle cone deviation. The results illustrate the effectiveness of this approach over the C-band, where the change in the center wavelength shift was reduced from 107.57 nm to 0.38 nm. Moreover, the change in the transmission filter bandwidth was reduced by 70%. The proposed compensation approach offers flexibility in the central wavelength and in the filter bandwidth estimated at the 0.5 dB, 3 dB, and 25 dB passband ranges.