Electro-optical modulator based on carrier depletion or carrier accumulation in semiconductors with advanced electrode configuration

US9036953B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• RWTH Aachen University · DE

Inventors

• Jeremy Witzens · Aachen, DE
• Florian Merget · Aachen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 4, 2013
• Grant date: May 19, 2015
• Expiry date: Sep 21, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/0152
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An electro-optical modulator with two electrodes as part of a transmission line of a first phase modulator and two electrodes as part of a transmission line of a second phase modulator included in two arms of a Mach-Zehnder-interferometer. An electrical controller applies a first electrical high-frequency-modulated voltage signals between the first and second electrodes and applies a second electrical high-frequency-modulated signals between the fourth and third electrodes. The electrical controller applies signals such that voltages applied to the first and fourth electrodes have substantially a same high-frequency content, and voltages applied to the second and third electrodes have substantially the same high-frequency content. In such configuration, a constant voltage offset is produced by either the voltages applied to the first and fourth electrodes or, the second and third electrodes. Thereby, cross-talk between electrodes, electrical losses, device size and fabrication costs may be reduced.