# US 10,371,968 B2 · Modulator with signal electrode enclosed by ground electrode > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,968 B2 - Document ID: US10371968B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/973,100 - Filed: 2018-05-07 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-06 - Assignees: Lumentum Operations LLC - Applicants: Lumentum Operations LLC - Inventors: Gregory J. McBrien; Karl Kissa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371968B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/0102: {Constructional details, not otherwise provided for in this subclass} - G02F 1/0316: {Electrodes} - G02F 1/0356: {controlled by a high-frequency electromagnetic wave component in an electric waveguide structure} - G02F 1/2255: {controlled by a high-frequency electromagnetic component in an electric waveguide structure} - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract A modulator may include a substrate. The modulator may include one or more waveguides formed upon or formed in the substrate. A signal electrode may be provided adjacent to at least one of the one or more waveguides and may include a curved outer surface. The modulator may include one or more ground electrodes provided adjacent to the signal electrode. Each ground electrode, of the one or more ground electrodes, may include a respective curved inner surface that is radially spaced from the curved outer surface of the signal electrode. The one or more ground electrodes and the substrate may at least substantially enclose the curved outer surface of the signal electrode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: a substrate; one or more waveguides formed upon or formed in the substrate; a signal electrode including an outer surface; and a ground electrode including an inner surface that is radially spaced from the outer surface of the signal electrode, a gap length between the inner surface and the outer surface being substantially constant in each radial direction from the signal electrode, and the ground electrode at least substantially enclosing a top surface of the signal electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, where the one or more waveguides comprise a first waveguide and a second waveguide, the first waveguide being adjacent to the signal electrode, and the second waveguide being adjacent to the ground electrode; and where the ground electrode comprises a gap adjacent to the second waveguide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, where the gap extends from a surface of the substrate to which the ground electrode is affixed, the gap extending at least partially to an outer surface of the ground electrode, the outer surface of the ground electrode being opposite the inner surface of the ground electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, where the ground electrode comprises a gap from an outer surface of the ground electrode toward the inner surface of the ground electrode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, where a plurality of gaps are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the device, the plurality of gaps including the gap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, where the inner surface comprises a plurality of surfaces that form a curved inner surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, where the outer surface comprises a plurality of surfaces that form a curved outer surface. ### Claim 8 A device, comprising: a substrate; one or more waveguides formed upon or formed in the substrate; a signal electrode including an outer surface; and a ground electrode including an inner surface that is radially spaced from the outer surface of the signal electrode, a gap length between the inner surface and the outer surface being substantially constant in each radial direction from the signal electrode, and the ground electrode at least partially overlapping a portion of a width of the signal electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, where the one or more waveguides comprise a first waveguide and a second waveguide, the first waveguide being adjacent to the signal electrode, and the second waveguide being adjacent to the ground electrode; and where the ground electrode comprises a gap adjacent to the second waveguide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, where the gap extends from a surface of the substrate to which the ground electrode is affixed, the gap extending at least partially to an outer surface of the ground electrode, the outer surface of the ground electrode being opposite the inner surface of the ground electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, where the ground electrode comprises a gap from an outer surface of the ground electrode toward the inner surface of the ground electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, where a plurality of gaps are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the device, the plurality of gaps including the gap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, where the inner surface comprises a plurality of surfaces that form a curved inner surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, where the outer surface comprises a plurality of surfaces that form a curved outer surface. ### Claim 15 A device, comprising: a substrate; one or more waveguides formed upon or formed in the substrate; a signal electrode including an outer surface; and a ground electrode including an inner surface, the ground electrode at least partially overlapping a portion of a width of the signal electrode and extending above the signal electrode in a direction perpendicular to the width of the signal electrode and along a length of the signal electrode, and the inner surface comprising a plurality of surfaces that form a curved inner surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, where the one or more waveguides comprise a first waveguide and a second waveguide, the first waveguide being adjacent to the signal electrode, and the second waveguide being adjacent to the ground electrode; and where the ground electrode comprises a gap adjacent to the second waveguide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, where the gap extends from a surface of the substrate to which the ground electrode is affixed, the gap extending at least partially to an outer surface of the ground electrode, the outer surface of the ground electrode being opposite the inner surface of the ground electrode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, where the ground electrode comprises a gap from an outer surface of the ground electrode toward the inner surface of the ground electrode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, where a plurality of gaps are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the device, the plurality of gaps including the gap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, where at least one of: the inner surface comprises a plurality of surfaces, or the outer surface comprises a plurality of surfaces.