High efficiency electro-optic modulator

An electro-optic modulator device comprising:

• an electric input configured to receive a signal, wherein the electric input is associated with an input impedance;
• an optical layer, wherein the optical layer includes optical waveguides;
• and
• an electrode structure coupled to the optical layer, wherein the electrode structure comprises a signal electrode disposed between ground electrodes, wherein the signal electrode is configured to carry the signal, wherein the electrode structure is configured to generate an electric field based on the signal, wherein the electric field is configured to modulate light passing through the optical waveguides to produce modulated light based on the signal, wherein the electrode structure comprises an impedance transition section, wherein an input of the impedance transition section is associated with the input impedance, wherein an output of the impedance transition section is associated with a second impedance that is less than the input impedance, wherein the electrode structure includes a constant impedance section associated with the second impedance, and wherein a length of the impedance transition section is smaller than a length of the constant impedance section.

An electro-optic modulator device comprising:

• a quartz substrate;
• a lithium niobate layer coupled to the quartz substrate, wherein the lithium niobate layer comprises a plurality of optical waveguides, and wherein a crystallographic axis of the quartz substrate is aligned with a crystallographic axis of the lithium niobate layer;
• and
• an electrode structure coupled to the lithium niobate layer, wherein the electrode structure comprises a signal electrode configured to carry a signal and ground electrodes, wherein the electrode structure is positioned in working relation to optical waveguides in a first section of the lithium niobate layer, wherein the electrode structure is configured to generate an electric field based on the signal between the signal electrode and the ground electrodes, wherein the electric field is configured to modulate light in the plurality of optical waveguides to produce modulated light based on the signal, wherein the electrode structure comprises an impedance transition section configured to adjust an impedance associated with the electrode structure, and wherein the electrode structure includes a constant impedance section coupled to the impedance transition section.

An electro-optic modulator device comprising:

• an electric input configured to receive a signal, wherein the electric input is associated with an input impedance;
• an impedance transition circuit coupled to the electric input, wherein an input of the impedance transition circuit is associated with the input impedance and an output of the impedance transition circuit is associated with a first impedance less than the input impedance;
• a light input configured to receive light;
• an electro-optic modulator, wherein the electro-optic modulator comprises an optical layer coupled to the light input and configured to direct the light into optical waveguides in the optical layer and an electrode structure coupled to the impedance transition circuit, wherein the electrode structure is configured to generate an electrical field based on the signal that modulates the light in the optical waveguides to produce modulated light;
• a modulated light output configured to direct the modulated light from the optical layer to one or more output optic fibers;
• and
• a phase shifter coupled to a second electro-optic modulator device, wherein the phase shifter is configured to receive the light, wherein the second electro-optic modulator device includes a second electric input configured to receive a second signal, a second light input configured to receive output light from the phase shifter, and a second electro-optic modulator, and wherein the modulated light from the optical layer is configured to be combined with second modulated light from the second electro-optic modulator and directed to the one or more output optic fibers.

A method comprising:

• receiving light at a light input of an electro-optic modulator device;
• directing the light via the light input into optical waveguides in an optical layer of an electro-optic modulator of the electro-optic modulator device;
• receiving a signal at an electric input of the electro-optic modulator device, wherein the electric input is associated with an input impedance;
• providing the signal to an electrode structure of the electro-optic modulator, wherein the electrode structure generates an electrical field based on the signal, wherein the electric field modulates light in the optical waveguides to produce modulated light based on the signal, wherein the electrode structure includes an impedance transition section having a first length, and wherein the electrode structure includes a constant impedance section that is associated with a second impedance less than the input impedance and that has a second length that is smaller than the first length;
• adjusting, using the impedance transition section, the input impedance to reduce the input impedance to the second impedance;
• and
• providing the modulated light based on the signal from the optical layer to one or more output optic fibers.