Optical modulator

US5139341A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Alcatel N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Peter Kersten · Leonberg, DE
• Andreas Wieder · Stuttgart, DE
• Helmut Hanisch · Jeffery Road, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 31, 1990
• Grant date: Aug 18, 1992
• Expiry date: Dec 31, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/361
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical modulator having a slit arrangement and an associated zone exhibiting both an electrooptical effect and an intrinsic polarization direction, includes an electrode arrangement to which an information signal is applied during operation. The slit arrangement is a double slit arrangement while the electrode arrangement includes three electrodes between which the slits are disposed. At one slit, the electrical field of the signal is oriented in the same direction as the intrinsic polarization direction and, at the other slit, the electrical field of the signal is oriented in a direction opposite to the intrinsic polarization direction.