Patent · US Active

Controlling bias voltages for optical modulators

US9846318B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
0References
17Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 2013
Grant dateDec 19, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/212
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling a bias voltage (20) supplied to an optical modulator that comprises a biasable component configurable to be biased by application of the bias voltage (20), the method comprising: providing a target for the modulator output power; applying, to the biasable component, a bias voltage (20) that biases the biasable component so that the output power is within a pre-defined range of the target; monitoring the output power and, if the output power of the modulator is determined to be outside the pre-defined range, varying the value of the bias voltage (20) to bring the output power back within the pre-defined range; and monitoring the optical input to the modulator and, if it has been disabled, maintaining the bias voltage (20) at its current level for a pre-determined length of time that is dependent upon how long the modulator has been operating at quadrature.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.