Method and apparatus for control of optical phase shifters in an optical device
US11480844B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2020 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 18, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/311
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for control of plural optical phase shifters in an optical device, such as a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer switch. Drive signal magnitude is set using a level setting input and is used for operating both phase shifters, which may have similar characteristics due to co-location and co-manufacture. A device state control signal selects which of the phase shifters receives the drive signal. One or more switches may be used to route the drive signal to the selected phase shifter. Separate level control circuits and state control circuits operating at different speeds may be employed. When the phase shifters are asymmetrically conducting (e.g. carrier injection) phase shifters, a bi-polar drive circuit can be employed. In this case, the phase shifters can be connected in reverse-parallel, and the drive signal polarity can be switchably reversed in order to drive a selected one of the phase shifters.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.