US 2010/0245968 A1 · BIAS CONTROLLER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bias controller for a dual output electro-optic modulator and a method for controlling the bias of a dual output electro-optic modulator. The invention further comprises an optical commutator switch with a plurality of dual-output electro-optic modulators interconnected in a tiered arrangement, and control means for deriving measurements of optical power from each of the modulators. The optical commutator is further used for determining respective bias control signals to achieve and maintain operation of the modulators substantially at their quadrature bias points, and further for generating said respective bias control signals for applying them to the respective modulators.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A bias controller for a dual output electro-optic modulator, the modulator having an input for receiving a bias control signal to enable control of the modulator bias point, the bias controller-comprising:

a power signal generator which when coupled to the modulator are arranged to generate power signals indicative of the optical power at each output of the modulator;
a controller for processing said power signals and for determining, according to the difference in average indicated optical power between the outputs of the modulator, a bias control signal to be applied to achieve or to maintain a predetermined bias point of the modulator;
and
a bias control signal generator for generating said bias control signal for output to the modulator.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bias controller

Life of this patent

Bias controller

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16