Abstract:
Optical switches based on the balanced bridge interferometer design require precisely made (or half a coupling length) directional couplers to achieve minimum crosstalk for the two switch outputs. Precision 3 dB-directional couplers require the waveguide dimensions and fabrication parameters of the evanescent region to be tightly controlled making a low crosstalk switch difficult to manufacture and expensive. A new type of balanced bridge interferometer type switch is disclosed where the input and output directional couplers are asymmetrically biased to induce a certain difference in the propagation constants between the two waveguide in the directional couplers. By using the asymmetrically biased directional couplers with a certain tuning a bias voltage for the directional couplers. Low crosstalk switches can be achieved for a very wide range of directional coupler strengths, relaxing the precise half-coupling length directional couplers required in conventional design. This relaxation of the precise directional coupler waveguide regions allows a relaxation in the manufacturing tolerance of the devices and therefore make the switch much easier to make. Because low crosstalk switches can be a device with an extended operating range and broader directional coupler parameters, switches can be used for a much broader wavelength bandwidth. In one of the embodiments, this new design allows a device to switch both TE and TM mode optical signals simultaneously at low crosstalk levels to result in a polarization-independent optical switch.
Abstract:
Verbesserte optische interferometrische Modulatoren weisen eine kleine Wellenleiterbeabstandung auf, sodass das Wellenleiterpaar nahe an der zentralen Elektrode liegt, um elektrooptische Interaktion zu steigern. Es sind asymmetrische Wellenleiter mit unterschiedlichen Indizes zum effektiven Entkoppeln des Wellenleiterpaars benutzt. Es sind mehrfache Teilabschnitte von asymmetrischen Wellenleitern mit abwechselnden unterschiedlichen Indizes benutzt, um chirpfreien Betrieb zu erzielen. Eine andere Version der Vorrichtung nutzt Übertragungsleitungselektroden, die sich abwechselnd zwischen Teilabschnitten näher an eines des Wellenleiterpaars schlängeln. Eine andere Version der Vorrichtung nutzt eine Wellenleiterstruktur, bei der einer der Wellenleiter in abwechselndem Teilabschnitt näher an der zentralen Elektrode liegt. Zum weiteren Verbessern der Effizienz ist eine GS-Vorspannung an den äußeren Elektroden vorgesehen, die als HF-Masse-, jedoch GS-Float-Elektroden konfiguriert sind. Eine weitere Verbesserung ist, dass ein Schlitz unterhalb des Wellenleiterbereichs eingeschnitten ist, um die Stärke des Substrats effektiv zu reduzieren. Diese Verbesserungen führen zu höherer Modulatoreffizienz.
Abstract:
A cw-laser source transmits low-noise, narrow-linewidth optical power via an optical fiber to a bias-free electro-optic phase modulator at a remote site, where an antenna or an RF sensor is located. The RF electrical signal modulates the phase modulator at the remote site, converting an electrical signal into an optical signal. The phase-modulated optical signal is fed back via the optical fiber to an optical filter whose filter transfer characteristics can be tuned and reconfigured to cancel the intermodulation distortion terms, particularly the dominant 3rd order intermodulation, as well as the 2nd order. The filtered optical signal is converted to the RF signal at the photodetector. The optical filter is used to effectively "linearize" the signal at the receiver end, rather than at the modulator end.
Abstract:
An optical modulator has a continuous wave laser input, an RF input, a bias and dither input and an output. A photodiode connected to an output tap produces a voltage that is amplified. Noise is removed from the amplified output. A spread-spectrum dither harmonic is generated and supplied to a multiplier with the amplified and filtered feedback and is used to create a DC bias. A spread-spectrum dither is created and added to the DC bias. Spread spectrum dither and bias both are applied to the bias input of optical modulator. The bias and spread spectrum dither controller is usable with other non-optical modulators and other electronic devices.
Abstract:
Improved optical interferometric modulators have a small waveguide spacing so that the waveguide pair are close to the central electrode, to enhance electro-optic interaction. Asymmetric waveguides with differential indices are used to effectively de-couple the waveguide pair. Multiple sections of asymmetric waveguide pairs with alternating differential indices are used to achieve chirp-free operation. Another version of the device utilizes transmission-line electrode that weave closer to one of the waveguide pair alternately between sections. Another version of the device utilizes waveguide structure that one of the waveguide is closer to the central electrode in alternate section. To improve efficiency further, a DC bias is provided on the outer electrodes configured as an RF-ground but DC-float electrodes. Another improvement is to have a slot is cut underneath the waveguide region to effectively reduce to thickness of the substrate. These improvements lead to higher modulator efficiency.
Abstract:
The invention introduces a new RF test and measurement methodology based on optical signal processing that has the capability to measure all of the RF parameters (both amplitude and phase) of an electronic component or system including transmission (S21) and reflection (S11). It can also be applied to measuring the electro-optic properties of electro-optic modulators, both phase modulators and intensity modulators. The basis of the invention is to use the RF information encoded in the optical sidebands generated by an electro-optic modulator to determine all of the relevant parameters of an electronic or electro-optic device. Optical carrier suppression techniques are used to isolate the information carrying optical sidebands from the dominant optical carrier.
Abstract:
Improved optical interferometric modulators have a small waveguide spacing so that the waveguide pair are close to the central electrode, to enhance electro-optic interaction. Asymmetric waveguides with differential indices are used to effectively de-couple the waveguide pair. Multiple sections of asymmetric waveguide pairs with alternating differential indices are used to achieve chirp-free operation. Another version of the device utilizes transmission-line electrode that weave closer to one of the waveguide pair alternately between sections. Another version of the device utilizes waveguide structure that one of the waveguide is closer to the central electrode in alternate section. To improve efficiency further, a DC bias is provided on the outer electrodes configured as an RF-ground but DC-float electrodes. Another improvement is to have a slot is cut underneath the waveguide region to effectively reduce to thickness of the substrate. These improvements lead to higher modulator efficiency.
Abstract:
Electro-optic modulation of multiple phase modulator waveguides with a single electrode is made possible by determining places of equal electric field strength. Substrate extensions support edges of a wide hot electrode and ground electrodes equally spaced from the wide hot electrodes. Waveguides are positioned in the extensions separated from the electrodes by buffer layers. A wide microstrip hot electrode on a buffer layer, wider substrate and ground has multiple waveguides in the substrate below the buffer layer. A thinned substrate has a microstrip hot electrode and spaced coplanar grounds with multiple waveguides located on both sides. Decreasing substrate thickness flattens the electric field strength between the electrodes and allows multiple waveguides located between the central hot and outer ground electrodes. Adjacent waveguides with different asymmetric waveguide index portion staged along their length eliminate cross talk.
Abstract:
A Dual-polarization optical modulator that can be used to modulate light in both polarization states, in which the operating points of each polarization state can be set at any arbitrary point independently from each other. A novel architecture for an optically-controlled Phased-array beam forming system utilizing this unique dual-polarization is proposed to facilitate simple and practical implementation.
Abstract:
Improved optical interferometric modulators have a small waveguide spacing so that the waveguide pair are close to the central electrode, to enhance electro-optic interaction. Asymmetric waveguides with differential indices are used to effectively de-couple the waveguide pair. Multiple sections of asymmetric waveguide pairs with alternating differential indices are used to achieve chirp-free operation. Another version of the device utilizes transmission-line electrode that weave closer to one of the waveguide pair alternately between sections. Another version of the device utilizes waveguide structure that one of the waveguide is closer to the central electrode in alternate section. To improve efficiency further, a DC bias is provided on the outer electrodes configured as an RF-ground but DC-float electrodes. Another improvement is to have a slot is cut underneath the waveguide region to effectively reduce to thickness of the substrate. These improvements lead to higher modulator efficiency.