Phase Modulation Type Patents (Class 385/3)
  • Publication number: 20110052114
    Abstract: An optical photonic device comprising a planar semiconductor substrate having a light-guiding layer thereon, a primary laser light source in said light-guiding layer and a vertical coupler optically coupled to the primary laser light source by waveguide portions of the light-guiding layer. The vertical coupler is configured to receive a light beam from the primary laser light source and redirect the light beam in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the planar substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Pietro A.G. Bernasconi, Young Kai Chen, Christopher R. Doerr, David T. Neilson
  • Patent number: 7899276
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein comprises an optoelectronic device comprising a waveguide structure including a plurality of optical modulator elements each having an optical property that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal so as to modulate light guided in the waveguide structure. The optoelectronic device also comprises a plurality of amplifiers in distributed fashion. Each amplifier is electrically coupled to one of the optical modulators to apply electrical signals to the optical modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kucharski, Behnam Analui, Lawrence C. Gunn, III, Roger Koumans, Thierry Pinguet, Thiruvikraman Sadagopan
  • Publication number: 20110044573
    Abstract: A silicon-based optical modulator is configured as a multi-segment device that utilizes a modified electrical data input signal format to address phase modulation nonlinearity and attenuation problems associated with free-carrier dispersion-based modulation. The modulator is formed to include M separate segments and a digital signal encoder is utilized to convert an N bit input data signal into a plurality of M drive signals for the M modulator segments, where M?2N/2. The lengths of the modulator segments may also be adjusted to address the nonlinearity and attenuation problems. Additional phase adjustments may be utilized at the output of the modulator (beyond the combining waveguide).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Webster, Anujit Shastri, Kalpendu Shastri
  • Patent number: 7877021
    Abstract: In a pulse generator of very high resolution phase and/or intensity profiles, an active mode-locking laser source (1) emits a first train of optical pulses according to a determined period (To), which is intensity-modulated pulse-by-pulse by a modulator (2). The modulated pulses are transmitted to an optical loop (3) via a coupler (4). The optical length of the optical loop is slightly different from the period (To) of the source. The modulated pulses are transmitted to input B of the coupler. The optical loop connects output D to input A of the coupler. This coupler is commanded such that, according to a first command (k=0), it transmits the light received on its two inputs A, B towards output d, and according to a second command (K=1), it transmits the light received on its input (A) towards output (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Alain Jolly
  • Publication number: 20110007995
    Abstract: A Mach Zehnder (MZ) modulator (1) includes a splitter (4) for splitting incident light in one wave guide (3) into two modulator arms (5,6) of the MZ and a combiner (7) that combines light from the two arms (5,6) into an output mode, where electrodes (9,10) are present in connection with the arms (5,6) for changing the refractive index in the arms in order to modulate incident light so that the light is amplified or so that an extinction, due to interference between the light in the two arms, takes place. The splitter (4) is arranged to split incident light equally into the two arms (5,6) and a part (11) of one of the arms (5) between the electrode (9) and the combiner (7) is designed to cause an intentional loss of light in the wave guide (5), whereby a desired asymmetry in transmission of the two arms (5,6) occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SYNTUNE AB
    Inventors: Per Granestrand, Jan-OLof Wesstrom, Dave Adams
  • Patent number: 7869668
    Abstract: A method for generating a carrier residual signal and its device, in which a heterodyne optical signal used in a photometric field or an optical fiber radio communication field can be stably generated with a simplified structure. The device includes an optical modulating unit that includes a light source generating a light wave having a specific wavelength, and an SSB optical modulator. A light wave emitted from the light source enters into the optical modulating unit. A light wave emitted from the optical modulating unit includes a carrier component related to a zero-order Bessel function and a specific signal component related to a specific high-order Bessel function while suppressing signal components other than the specific signal component related to the specific high-order Bessel function, and a ratio of optical intensity between the carrier component and the specific signal component is set substantially to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hashimoto, Kaoru Higuma, Junichiro Ichikawa, Shingo Mori, Yozo Shoji, Hiroyo Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7869669
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical phase modulator having a substrate made of an electro-optical material, a signal electrode provided on the substrate and first and second ground electrodes provided on both sides of the signal electrode. The electrodes are provided so that a size of the first gap between the first ground electrode and the signal electrode is smaller than a size of a second gap between the second ground electrode and the signal electrode. Furthermore, an optical waveguide is provided in the first gap as an optical phase modulator and not provided in the second gap. A driving voltage required for the phase adjustments is thereby lowered, the impedance matching is easily made and excellent radio frequency property can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Yuichi Iwata, Tetsuya Ejiri, Akiyoshi Ide
  • Publication number: 20110002574
    Abstract: An optical device is provided having a solid state nonlinear material with a nanostructured extent, in at least one dimension, that is less than about 10 nm or that is at a temperature of less than about 77 K. An electronic band gap, EGap, of the material is at least about twice as large as an energy of a photon with a wavelength, ?, equal to an operational wavelength of the device. The material is characterized by a switching figure of merit, ?, having a value that is at least about 2?. A dielectric structure is around at least one dimension of the nonlinear material in a geometric arrangement having a characteristic photonic band gap that at least partially overlaps the electronic band gap of the material. At least one waveguide is disposed at the dielectric structure in sufficient proximity with the material for coupling light to the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Peter Bermel, Alejandro Rodriguez, Marin Soljacic, John Joannopoulos
  • Publication number: 20110002575
    Abstract: Provided is a traveling-wave type semiconductor optical phase modulator capable of high speed and low voltage operation by improving an n-SI-i-n-type layered structure. A first exemplary aspect of the present invention is a waveguide-type semiconductor optical modulator including: a semiconductor substrate (101); a first n-type cladding layer (103) and a second n-type cladding layer (108) formed on the semiconductor substrate (101); an undoped optical waveguide core layer (104) and an electron trapping layer (107) formed between the first n-type cladding layer (103) and the second n-type cladding layer (108); and a hole supplying layer (106) formed between the undoped optical waveguide core layer (104) and the electron trapping layer (107).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 7865053
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a substrate having a surface and an optical waveguide having a ridge-shaped semiconductor optical core, the ridge-shaped semiconductor optical core being located over the surface. The apparatus may further include a first semiconductor slab being in contact with a first portion of the ridge-shaped semiconductor optical core, and a second semiconductor slab being in contact with a second portion of the ridge-shaped semiconductor optical core, the second semiconductor slab being farther from the surface than the first semiconductor slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas M. Gill
  • Publication number: 20100329601
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device includes a substrate of a ferroelectric material, at least a pair of electrodes 4A, 4B provided on one main face of the substrate, and a channel-type optical waveguide 5A formed in a gap 1 of the pair of the electrodes. The optical waveguide 5A has a curved part 15. A central line C of the gap 1 is provided outside of a center line WC of the optical waveguide with respect to the center O of curvature of the curved part 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Ide, Jungo Kondo, Osamu Mitomi, Yasunori Iwasaki, Kenji Aoki
  • Patent number: 7856155
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a light modulator using a thin plate having a thickness of 20 ?m or less and capable of stably holding a conductive film suppressing troubles such as resonance phenomenon of microwaves in a substrate and pyro-electric phenomenon and to provide a method of fabricating the light modulator. The light modulator includes: a thin plate (10) formed of a material having an electro-optic effect and having a thickness of 20 ?m or less; a light waveguide (11) formed on the front or rear surface of the thin plate; and modulation electrodes (13, 14) formed on the front surface of the thin plate to modulate light passing through the light waveguide. The light modulator further includes a reinforcing plate (16) bonded to the rear surface of the thin plate and a conductive film (17) continuously formed in the range from the side surface of the thin plate to the side surface of the reinforcing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shinriki, Katsutoshi Kondou, Tsutomu Saitou
  • Publication number: 20100316325
    Abstract: Provided is a small-size optical phase modulation element and an optical modulator using it. The optical phase modulation element includes a Plasmon waveguide having a clad made of a metal material having a complex dielectric constant having a negative real part in the used wavelength and a core formed by a dielectric metal material having a complex dielectric constant having a positive real part in the used wavelength. The Plasmon waveguide is connected to an optical waveguide including a clad and a core both having a complex dielectric constant having a positive real part. The core of the Plasmon waveguide and the core of the optical waveguide are formed, at least partially, of the same semiconductor material. The Plasmon waveguide has a function to phase-modulate the incident light when voltage is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Daisuke Okamoto, Masafumi Nakada, Junichi Fujikata
  • Publication number: 20100316326
    Abstract: An optical device includes first and second optical modulators formed on a substrate having electro-optical effect. The first optical modulator includes a first optical waveguide; a first signal electrode configured to provide a first data signal for the first optical waveguide; and a first DC electrode, arranged at an output side of the first signal electrode, and configured to provide first DC voltage for the first optical waveguide. The second optical modulator includes a second optical waveguide; a second signal electrode configured to provide a second data signal for the second optical waveguide; and a second DC electrode provided, arranged at an input side of the second signal electrode, and configured to provide second DC voltage for the second optical waveguide. Input portions of the first and second signal electrodes are arranged at a same side edge of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 7853155
    Abstract: A method for operating an optical transmitter for transmission of an optical signal over a dispersive fiber optic media to a remote receiver. The method includes the steps of providing a respective bias level of a first RF signal and a second RF signal input to an optical modulator that modulates the optical signal; determining an output level of the optical modulator in response to the provided bias levels and adjusting a bias level of at least one of the first and second RF input signals based upon the determined output level and an expected output level at a configuration set point for the provided respective bias levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Emcore Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Krieg
  • Patent number: 7851782
    Abstract: An example photodetector includes a waveguide structure having an active waveguide comprising an absorber for converting photons conveying an optical signal into charge carriers conveying a corresponding electrical signal; a carrier collection layer for transporting the charge carriers conveying the electrical signal; and a secondary waveguide immediately adjacent to the carrier collection layer, for receiving the photons to be detected, and which is evanescently coupled to the active waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: UCL Business PLC
    Inventors: Alwyn John Seeds, Cyril Renaud, Michael Robertson
  • Patent number: 7848599
    Abstract: Embodiments of an optical device, an array of optical devices, and a technique for fabricating the optical device or the array are described. This optical device is implemented on a substrate (such as silicon), and includes a thermally tunable optical waveguide that has good thermal isolation from its surroundings. In particular, a portion of a semiconductor in the optical device, which includes the optical waveguide, is free standing above a gap between the semiconductor layer and the substrate. By reducing the thermal coupling between the optical waveguide and the external environment, the optical device can be thermally tuned with significantly less power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Cunningham, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy, Ivan Shubin, Guoliang Li, Xuezhe Zheng
  • Patent number: 7848601
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for optical switching and data control, without the interaction of electronic switching speeds. In one example embodiment, a common cavity optical latch is provided that that can hold an optical state for an extended period of time, and the operation of which is controlled optically. Optical phase control allows optical modal switching to be employed between two common optical cavities, using incident optical signals and the way in which the cavities manipulate the phase within them to lock in one or the other configuration, thereby forming an optical latch. The optical latch is implemented in an integrated fashion, such as in a CMOS environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Carothers
  • Patent number: 7844149
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optic modulator structure containing an additional set of bias electrodes buried within the device for applying bias to set the operating point. Thus the RF electrodes used to modulate incoming optical signals can be operated with zero DC bias, reducing electrode corrosion by galvanic and other effects that can be present in non-hermetic packages. The bias electrodes are at least partially separated from the substrate with a buffer layer, which in one embodiment has a small amount of conductivity. This conductive buffer layer reduces optical loss from the bias electrodes and also reduces DC drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Kissa, William J. Minford, Glen Drake
  • Patent number: 7844147
    Abstract: A system for dynamic waveform shaping in an optical fiber comprising: the optical fiber receiving an optical waveform, the optical waveform having individual spectral lines; a plurality of fiber bragg gratings in-line on the optical fiber, each having a reflectivity wavelength corresponding to one of the spectral lines; a plurality of polarization controllers in-line on the optical fiber, each polarization controller receiving the optical waveform from a respective fiber bragg grating; a circulator for directing the optical waveform as input to the plurality of fiber bragg gratings and receiving the optical waveform as output from the plurality of fiber bragg gratings; and a polarizer in-line on the optical fiber receiving the optical waveform from the fiber bragg gratings and the polarization controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Governing Council of the Univeristy of Toronto
    Inventors: Yu Yeung Ho, Li Qian
  • Patent number: 7844146
    Abstract: An all-fiber optical pulse compression arrangement comprises a concatenated arrangement of a section of input fiber (e.g., a single mode fiber), a graded-index (GRIN) fiber lens and a section of pulse-compressing fiber (e.g., LMA fiber). The GRIN fiber lens is used to provide mode matching between the input fiber (supporting the propagation of chirped optical pulses) and the pulse-compressing fiber, with efficient pulse compression occurring along the length of the LMA fiber. The dispersion and length of the LMA fiber section are selected to provide the desired degree of pulse compression; for example, capable of reconstituting a femtosecond pulse as is used in supercontinuum generation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Nicholson, Andrew D. Yablon
  • Patent number: 7840103
    Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing system has a wavelength division multiplexer and a wavelength division demultiplexer. The wavelength division demultiplexer is in series with the wavelength division multiplexer to process at least one optical signal to generate at least one processed optical signal. The wavelength division multiplexer and the wavelength division demultiplexer cooperate to introduce substantially zero total chromatic dispersion in the processed optical signal. In one version, the wavelength division multiplexer and the wavelength division demultiplexer introduce opposing functions of chromatic dispersion into the at least one processed optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Jeff Rahn, Stephen G. Grubb
  • Publication number: 20100290732
    Abstract: An apparatus 100 that comprises a planar electro-optic modulator 110 being located on a substrate 105 and including a waveguide 115 and electrical contacts 120. The waveguide that includes first and second substantially straight segments 122, and a curved segment 126 that serially end-connects the first and second substantially straight segments such that light travels in a substantially anti-parallel manner in the first and second substantially straight segments. The electrical contacts being located adjacent the first and second substantially straight segments and being connected to produce constructively adding phase modulations on an optical carrier passing through the segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas M. Gill
  • Publication number: 20100284645
    Abstract: An optical device comprising a waveguide on a planar substrate. The waveguide includes a semi-conductive cladding layer that contacts electrical leads which are coupleable an electrical power source for controlling a refractive index of the cladding layer by passing electrical power through the cladding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher R. Doerr
  • Patent number: 7826689
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, an optical device comprising: a first modulator for independently modulating first light having a first predetermined polarization mode; a second modulator for independently modulating second light having a second predetermined polarization mode; and a polarization beam coupler having a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port; the polarization beam coupler for inputting the first light from the first modulator via the first port, inputting the second light from the second modulator via the second port, outputting the first light via the third port and inputting reflected and polarization converted light on the first light by a wave plate and a mirror, and outputting the first light having the converted polarization mode and the second light having the predetermined polarization mode via the fourth port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7826688
    Abstract: Embodiments of the inventions described herein comprise a device and method for manipulating an optical beam. The method comprises propagating an optical beam through a waveguide in proximity to a resonant cavity and pumping the resonant cavity with sufficient optical power to induce non-linearities in the refractive index of the resonant cavity. The method further comprises tuning the resonant frequency band of the resonant cavity with a modulation signal such that the optical beam is manipulated in a useful way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Thiruvikraman Sadagopan, Roger Koumans, Thierry Pinguet, Lawrence Cary Gunn, III
  • Patent number: 7822348
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for optimizing the pulse shape of optical signals output from an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter includes an optical modulator controlled by a bias voltage and a signal drive level, wherein the bias voltage and signal drive level are controlled automatically in a systematic way in dependence on one another to adapt the pulse shape of an optical output signal for optimal transmission over a transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Xtera Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Webb, Richard Oberland
  • Patent number: 7817879
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device including a dielectric substrate and a folded waveguide formed on the substrate, including a first waveguide and a second waveguide, one part of the first waveguide being connected to one end of the second waveguide at a first coupling portion, the other end of the second waveguide connected to another part of the first waveguide at a second coupling portion, the first waveguide being straight or curved with a radius of curvature larger than or equal to a first curvature radius, and the second waveguide being straight or curved with a radius of curvature smaller than the first curvature radius. An outer groove is formed on the substrate along an outer peripheral of the folded waveguide, an input-side inner groove is formed on the substrate near a first coupling portion, and an output-side inner groove is formed on the substrate near a second coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7809218
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is, in an optical modulator, to increase the production yield by enhancing the patterning accuracy of the electrodes, as well as to reduce the electrode loss by increasing the thickness of the electrodes. An optical modulator has a substrate 5 made of an electro-optical material; a modulation electrode 2A, 3A, 2B provided on the substrate 5; and an optical waveguide 1c provided on the substrate 5. Light propagating through the optical waveguide 1c is modulated by applying a modulation voltage to the modulation electrode. At least a part of the modulation electrode includes a base 2a, 3a formed on the substrate 5 and a projection part 2b, 3b having a width narrower than that of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Iwata, Osamu Mitomi, Jungo Kondo, Kenji Aoki
  • Publication number: 20100247025
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical element which includes a support substrate and a thin plate of single crystal stacked on the support substrate through a thermoplastic adhesive, having the advantages of easily regulating the phase of light waves and restoring the regulated state to the original state. The optical element includes a support substrate 4 and a thin plate 1 of single crystal stacked on the support substrate 4 through a thermoplastic adhesive 3. The optical characteristics of the optical element are regulated by applying stress within an elastic limit to at least a part of the thin plate in a state where the thermoplastic adhesive is softened by heating the optical element, forming a concavo-convex part 10 in the thin plate, and then cooling the optical element to fix the concavo-convex part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Kondou, Susumu Murata, Junichiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7787736
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor optoelectronic waveguide having a nin-type hetero structure which is able to stably operate an optical modulator. On the upper and lower surfaces of the core layer determined for the structure so that electro-optical effects are effectively exerted at an operating light wavelength and are provided with intermediate clad layers having a band gap which is greater than that of the core layer 11. Respectively on the upper and the lower surface of the intermediate clad layer are provided the clad layers having the band gap which is greater than those of the intermediate clad layers. On the upper surface of the clad layer are sequentially laminated a p-type layer and an n-type layer. In the applied voltage range used under an operating state, a whole region of the p-type layer and a part or a whole region of the n-type layer are depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: NTT Electronics Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Tadao Ishibashi, Seigo Ando, Ken Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 7787713
    Abstract: A method of modulating an optical carrier. A target carrier modulation is computed based on an input data signal. An effective length of an optical modulator is then controlled based on the target carrier modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Kim B. Roberts, Michel Belanger
  • Publication number: 20100215309
    Abstract: A phase modulation waveguide structure includes one of a semiconductor and a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, a doped semiconductor layer formed over the one of a semiconductor and a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, the doped semiconductor portion including a waveguide rib protruding from a surface thereof not in contact with the one of a semiconductor and a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, and an electrical contact on top of the waveguide rib. The electrical contact is formed of a material with an optical refractive index close to that of a surrounding oxide layer that surrounds the waveguide rib and the electrical contact and lower than the optical refractive index of the doped semiconductor layer. During propagation of an optical mode within the waveguide structure, the electrical contact isolates the optical mode between the doped semiconductor layer and a metal electrode contact on top of the electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Ivan Shubin, Guoliang Li, John E. Cunningham, Ashok Krishnamoorthy, Xuezhe Zheng
  • Patent number: 7783138
    Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder (MZ) interferometer modulator structure for fiberoptic telecommunications is disclosed in which drift of the operating point can be monitored with a reduced phase tracking error. One or more components of free-space light radiated into the substrate of the MZ modulator are selectively detected with one or more photodetectors. Suitable summing circuits are described for nulling out undesired photocurrent contributions in the photodetector(s) from on-state and off-state light radiated from the MZ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Roman T. Rowinski, Gregory J. McBrien, Karl Kissa, Eric Lim
  • Publication number: 20100202784
    Abstract: In an optical modulator, lights that have been branched by an input optical branching section are input via curved waveguides to a plurality of optical modulation sections arranged in parallel on the same substrate. In the optical modulation sections, optical branching sections of an MZ type optical waveguide are arranged shifted to an output side in the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the substrate, corresponding to an arrangement of input ends of signal electrodes. As a result, even if the input ends of the signal electrodes of the respective optical modulation sections are arranged side by side with a predetermined spacing on one side face of the substrate, input light can be applied to the respective optical modulation sections at low loss, without incurring an increase in the drive voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: FJUITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 7773833
    Abstract: Light having components of frequencies f0, f+1 and f?1 outputted from an optical modulator (10) is monitored, a second light detection means (14b) measures the power P2 of all the components, and a first light detection means (14a) measures the power P1 with frequency f0 component cut out by a filter means (13). Based on these light receiving powers (P1) and (P2), phase differences imparted by the respective DC electrodes of Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides (MZ-A, MZ-B, MZ-C) of the optical modulator (10) are controlled. The control is performed to minimize the light receiving power (P1) and to maximize the light receiving power (P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Higuma, Toshio Sakane
  • Patent number: 7751654
    Abstract: A silicon electro-optic waveguide modulator is formed using a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) configuration. Various embodiments are described using different modes of operation of the MOS diode and gate oxide thicknesses. In one example, a high-speed submicron waveguide active device is formed using silicon-on-insulator. A micro-ring resonator intensity-modulator exhibits switching times on the order of tens of pS with modulation depth of 73% with a bias voltage of 5 volts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal Lipson, Bradley Schmidt, Sameer Pradhan, Qianfan Xu
  • Patent number: 7751724
    Abstract: An optical modulator is provided which includes: an optical splitting part that splits an input light wave into two light waves; two optical waveguides that propagate the two light waves into which the input light wave is split, respectively; a first SSB modulating part that is provided in one of the two optical waveguides and modulates a light wave, which propagates into the first SSB modulating part, with a carrier frequency so that the light wave is converted into a different light wave having a single side band; a second SSB modulating part that is provided in the other of the two optical waveguides and modulates a light wave, which propagates into the second SSB modulating part, with a data signal in order to generate a signal light wave having a different single side band; and an optical combining part that combines the light wave modulated by the first SSB modulating part with the signal light wave generated by the second SSB modulating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hashimoto, Shingo Mori, Norikazu Miyazaki, Kaoru Higuma, Toshio Sakane
  • Publication number: 20100158429
    Abstract: Disclosed are optical modulators that have two coupling paths or structures between an input port to an output port, at least one of which includes an optical resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Milos Popovic
  • Publication number: 20100158428
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is an optical modulator, comprising: an optical waveguide (3); and a traveling wave electrode (4) including an interaction portion (9) for modulating a phase of incident light and an input feed-through portion (7), in which the optical modulator further comprises at least one impedance transformation portion for reducing an impedance mismatching between a characteristic impedance of the interaction portion and at least one of characteristic impedances of the input feed-through portion, a connector electrically connected to the input feed-through portion, and an external circuit, at least one of the impedance transformation portions has a characteristic impedance which is different from a geometric mean of the characteristic impedances of said interaction portion and said input feed-through portion, a geometric mean of the characteristic impedances of the interaction portion and the connector, or a geometric mean of the characteristic impedances of the interaction portion and the external circ
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: ANRITSU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Kawano, Masaya Nanami, Yuji Sato, Seiji Uchida, Nobuhiro Igarashi, Toru Nakahira, Eiji Kawazura, Satoshi Matsurnoto
  • Publication number: 20100158540
    Abstract: An optical module including a first optical coupler; a second optical coupler; a first optical waveguide; a second optical waveguide; a first electrode provided on the first optical waveguide; a second electrode provided on the second optical waveguide; a short electrode shorter than the first and second electrodes and provided on the second optical waveguide; and a first high-frequency connector and a second high-frequency connector; wherein, the short electrode provided on the second optical waveguide is coupled to the second high-frequency connector; and the first electrode provided on the first optical waveguide is coupled to the first high-frequency connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazumasa TAKABAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20100150495
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical switch system using optical interference. An optical switch system (1) comprises an input part (2) of an optical signal, a branching part (3) of the signal, a main Mach-Zehnder waveguide (MZC) (7), a first intensity modulator (9) provided on a first arm (4) for controlling an amplitude of an optical signal propagating through the first arm (4), a second intensity modulator (10) provided on a second arm (5) for controlling an amplitude of an optical signal propagating through the second arm (5), and a combining part (6) of the signals outputted from the first arm and the second arm, wherein one or both of the branching part (3) and the combining part (6) are X-branched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawanishi, Masayuki Izutsu, Takahide Sakamoto, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7734126
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for chirp control of a dual arm Z-modulator to minimize dispersion in the fiber plant. The chirp control is based upon a real-time control loop based upon performance monitoring data between a transmitter and a receiver. Advantageously, the present invention enables improved performance in high-speed optical systems, and in some cases can eliminate or minimize the need for external dispersion compensation fiber (DCF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Kershteyn, John K. Oltman
  • Patent number: 7734121
    Abstract: A bidirectional optical module having a device 1 for emitting transmitting signal light, an optical fiber 8 which the transmitting signal light from the device enters, a light-receiving device 9 which light from the optical fiber enters, and a wavelength splitting filter 4. The transmitting signal light emitted from the device is sent forward through the optical fiber, and the receiving signal light is received through the optical fiber. The bidirectional optical module has an optical device (optical isolator) of a reflection polarizer 6 bonded to an end face of the optical fiber, a Faraday rotator 5 disposed integrally on the reflection polarizer and an absorption polarizer 3 disposed on an optical path extending between the device and the filter. The reflection polarizer has a wavelength dependency which functions as a polarizer for the transmitting signal light, but does not function as a polarizer for the receiving signal light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Iida, Akio Watanabe, Mikio Uemura, Hideharu Okami
  • Patent number: 7729585
    Abstract: A light source apparatus with modulation function has a wavelength conversion module (75) composed of a nonlinear optical material with a structure having a nonlinear constant modulated periodically. It outputs a difference frequency or sum frequency produced by multiplexing pumping light from semiconductor laser light sources (71) and (72) with different wavelengths through a WDM coupler (74) and by launching the multiplexed light into the optical waveguide. The semiconductor laser light source (72) includes a diffraction grating. The semiconductor laser light source (71) includes a section for modulating output light emitted from its semiconductor laser, and is connected to an external FBG (73) which has a reflection band narrower than a resonance wavelength spacing determined by the device length of the semiconductor laser. The FBG (73) is supplied with the modulated output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: NipponTelegraph and Telephone Corporation, NTT Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuaki Magari, Tsutomu Yanagawa, Yoshiki Nishida, Hiroyasu Mawatari, Osamu Tadanaga, Masaki Asobe, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Junji Yumoto
  • Patent number: 7715732
    Abstract: A bias-control circuit that provides operating point control for a Mach-Zehnder modulator experiencing optical absorption at their interferometric arms. The bias control circuit generates compensation signals that are used to counter the thermally induced index shifts as a result of absorption. In addition, an operating point with desirable transmitter characteristics can also be arbitrarily chosen by over-compensating or under-compensating thermal effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Ping-Chiek Koh, Michael C. Larson
  • Patent number: 7715663
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for optical switching and data control, without the interaction of electronic switching speeds. In one example embodiment, a common cavity optical latch is provided that that can hold an optical state for an extended period of time, and the operation of which is controlled optically. Optical phase control allows optical modal switching to be employed between two common optical cavities, using incident optical signals and the way in which the cavities manipulate the phase within them to lock in one or the other configuration, thereby forming an optical latch. The optical latch is implemented in an integrated fashion, such as in a CMOS environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Carothers
  • Publication number: 20100111466
    Abstract: An exemplary optical modulator includes an interferometer. The interferometer includes an input optical coupler, an output optical coupler, and two or more controllable optical waveguides. Each controllable optical waveguide connects the input optical coupler to the output optical coupler and has an electro-absorption modulator along a segment thereof. Two of the controllable optical waveguides are connected to transmit to an output of the output optical coupler light of substantially different maximum amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher Richard Doerr, Peter J. Winzer
  • Patent number: 7711215
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a DSB-SC system capable of suppressing a third order component. The DSB-SC modulation having high extinction ratio can be realized by adjusting the first order component, which is generated by applying a modulation signal (3fm), and the third order component, which is generated by applying a basic signal (fm), to have reversed phase and the same intensity level, and then by applying the first order component to the third order component, these two components cancel each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawanishi, Masayuki Izutsu, Takahide Sakamoto, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7706639
    Abstract: A method of modulating an optical carrier. A target carrier modulation is computed based on an input data signal. An effective length of an optical modulator is then controlled based on the target carrier modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Kim R. Roberts, Michel Belanger