Optical modulator utilizing unary encoding and auxiliary modulator section for load balancing
US8929689B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/0113
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical modulator is configured to include multiple modulating sections formed along each arm and create a unary-encoded optical output signal by driving the number of sections required to represent the data value being transmitted (e.g., three sections driven to represent the data value “3”, four sections driven to represent the data value “4”). An auxiliary modulating section, isolated from the optical signal path, is included for creating a path for current flow in situations where only an odd number of modulating sections are required to represent the data. The activation of the auxiliary modulation section minimizes the current imbalance that would otherwise be present along a common node of the arrangement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.