Linear electroabsorptive modulator and related method of analog modulation of an optical carrier
US5402259A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1993 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/19
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus, and a corresponding method for it use, for directly modulating an optical carrier with a radio-frequency (rf) electrical signal. A semiconductor electroabsorptive modulator is operated at an optical wavelength and electrical bias voltage carefully selected to provide a near-linear electrical-to-optical transfer characteristic and to keep rf insertion loss low. Further reduction of insertion loss is achieved by use of an extremely short device, or a single quantum well device configuration, or both. Linearity is further optimized by choosing an appropriate combination of optical polarization mode, optical reflectivity of the device facets, and the number and physical properties of multiple quantum wells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.