Loading patent…
AssigneeThomson-CSF
InventorsMichel Papuchon, Claude Puech, Jean C. Anne
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a light intensity modulator controlled by a "word" of n bits and an opto-electronic digital-analog converter. The modulator comprises a two-arm interferometer in whose length there is created, by opto-electrical effect, successive phase shifts controlled respectively by control bits and whose values, when the control bits are in state 1, conform to the successive powers of 2. The total phase shift obtained thus depends directly on the analog value of the control word and the emerging intensity is modulated as a function of this word. A digital-analog converter is constructed by adding a photodetector means whose output voltage depends on the analog value of the control word.
A digitally controlled light intensity modulator comprising, on the surface of a substrate having electro-optical properties, a two-arm interferometer connected to an input guide receiving incident optical radiation, the fractions of radiation propagated in the two arms combining at the output of the interferometer in an output guide, the intensity of the emerging radiation depending on the phase shift introduced into the interferometer between the fractions of radiation propagated in the two arms, wherein the phase shift is the sum of n elementary phase shifts successively created along the interferometer respectively by n digital control voltages, these n elementary phase shifts being produced in conformity with a geometrical progression of common ratio 2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.