Broad-band substrate-wave-coupled electro-optic modulator
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorFinbar Sheehy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electro-optic modulator in which the input electromagnetic signal is launched as a substrate mode in the electro-optic material. Broadband endfire antennas on the top surface of the substrate couple the signal to electrodes positioned above the optical waveguide in the substrate to concentrate the input signal and achieve high electric field strength in the vicinity of the optical waveguide. The endfire antennas are oriented with respect to the optical waveguides so as to compensate for the phase velocity mismatch between the electromagnetic signal and the light beam in the optical waveguide.
Claims21
An electro-optic modulator comprising:
- an electro-optic substrate having a planar top surface and a relatively narrow optical waveguide beneath said top surface;
- a planar conductor layer overlying said top surface comprising:
- (a) an endfire antenna facing an incoming direction parallel to said top surface and disposed at angle with respect to said narrow optical waveguide, and
- (b) an elongate coupling electrode parallel to and at least nearly overlying said optical waveguide, said elongate coupling electrode being connected to said endfire antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.