Patents by Inventor Antonino Nespola

Antonino Nespola has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6760493
    Abstract: A coplanar integrated optical waveguide electro-optical modulator comprises a substrate (1) of an electro-optic material, at least two optical waveguides (41, 42) integrated in the substrate in correspondence of a surface (71) thereof, and an electrode system (80, 90, 100; 80, 90, 900; 12-15; 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) arranged on the surface for applying a modulating electric field to the waveguides suitable for causing a modulation of a refractive index of the two waveguides in a device modulation region (50). The waveguides are formed, for at least a section thereof (411, 421) in the device modulation region, in respective substrate regions (61, 62) which have electro-optic coefficients of opposite sign along an axis transversal to the waveguide sections, so that a modulating electric field of same direction and orientation in the waveguide sections causes refractive index modulations of opposite sign in the waveguide sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Avanex Corporation
    Inventors: Valerio Pruneri, Antonino Nespola
  • Patent number: 6700691
    Abstract: A high-speed external optical modulator formed on a lithium niobate substrate has a diffused optical waveguide, a surface buffer layer, and electrodes for applying modulating RF energy. The electrodes are electroplated in at least two steps, resulting in a top co-planar waveguide structure lying on a second one. Low driving voltage is achieved through selection of the width, position, and dimension of the lower hot and ground electrodes. The upper ground electrodes and, preferably, also the upper hot electrode, are narrower in width than the corresponding lower electrodes, which helps to provide good velocity matching, good impedance values, and low electrical losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Avanex Corporation
    Inventors: Antonino Nespola, Simone M. Pensa
  • Publication number: 20030002766
    Abstract: A coplanar integrated optical waveguide electro-optical modulator comprises a substrate (1) of an electro-optic material, at least two optical waveguides (41, 42) integrated in the substrate in correspondence of a surface (71) thereof, and an electrode system (80, 90, 100; 80, 90, 900; 12-15; 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) arranged on the surface for applying a modulating electric field to the waveguides suitable for causing a modulation of a refractive index of the two waveguides in a device modulation region (50). The waveguides are formed, for at least a section thereof (411, 421) in the device modulation region, in respective substrate regions (61, 62) which have electro-optic coefficients of opposite sign along an axis transversal to the waveguide sections, so that a modulating electric field of same direction and orientation in the waveguide sections causes refractive index modulations of opposite sign in the waveguide sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Valerio Pruneri, Antonino Nespola
  • Publication number: 20020167711
    Abstract: A high-speed external optical modulator formed on a lithium niobate substrate has a diffused optical waveguide, a surface buffer layer, and electrodes for applying modulating RF energy. The electrodes are electroplated in at least two steps, resulting in a top co-planar waveguide structure lying on a second one. Low driving voltage is achieved through selection of the width, position, and dimension of the lower hot and ground electrodes. The upper ground electrodes and, preferably, also the upper hot electrode, are narrower in width than the corresponding lower electrodes, which helps to provide good velocity matching, good impedance values, and low electrical losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Antonino Nespola, Simone M. Pensa