Low voltage, optical phase modulator
US6657769B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/01708
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A low voltage optical phase modulator includes a splitter having an input, a first output, and a second output. The input receives an optical signal and is split between the first and second outputs. A phase adjustment element is coupled to the second output and produces a predetermined optical shift in the optical signal to produce a phase-shifted optical signal. A first electroabsorptive element is coupled to the first output and blocks transmission of the optical signal when the first electroabsorptive element is activated with a low voltage. A second electroabsorptive element is coupled to the phase adjustment element and blocks transmission of the phase-shifted optical signal when the second electroabsorptive element is activated using the low voltage. An optical combiner having a first combiner input, a second combiner input, and a combiner output is coupled to the first and second electroabsorptive elements and receives the optical signal and the phase-shifted optical signal. The combiner combines these optical signals to produce a binary encoded optical signal. The present invention thus achieves an improved low voltage optical phase modulator. The present invention is adva…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.