Optical modulator system
US6714575B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/4056
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A modulation technique for optical signals. A laser diode having an outcoupling grating in the waveguide between two reflectors is provided. A second waveguide is positioned next to the first waveguide. The first end of the second waveguide is optically connected to the first waveguide on one side of the outcoupling grating, while the second end of the second waveguide is optically connected to the first waveguide on the other side of the outcoupling grating. Switches are provided that control the amount of light coupled between the waveguides. For example, when the switches are in a first state, no light is coupled between the two waveguides, and all the light stays in the laser diode or is coupled out of the outcoupling grating, while none of the light couples into the second grating; and when the switches are in a second state, some or all of the light from the first waveguide is coupled into the second waveguide. By toggling the states of the switches, the light emitted from the laser diode is modulated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.