SEGMENTED OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE MODULATOR

• Main Authors: GUAN, Hang, LIM, Daihyun, STRESHINSKY, Matthew, GILL, Douglas
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 26.10.2022
• Subjects: DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH ISMODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THEDEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY,COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g.SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING; FREQUENCY-CHANGING; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; TECHNIQUES OR PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION THEREOF

A segmented optical modulator includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of electrodes disposed along the planar surface of the substrate, and an electrical drive circuit. The plurality of electrodes includes one or more first electrodes located along a first segment of the optical waveguide to form a first modulator segment therewith, and one or more second electrodes located along a second segment of the optical waveguide to form a second modulator segment therewith. The electrical drive circuit is configured to transmit RF drive signals to both the first and second electrodes to modulate an optical carrier propagating along the optical waveguide. The segmented optical modulator is configured so that the first and second modulator segments modulate the optical carrier in distinct frequency regions.