High-speed external integrated optical modulator
AssigneeGeneral Microwave Israel Corporation
InventorsSamuel Hopfer, Yosef Shani
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Abstract
An improved high-speed external optical modulator, modulated by RF waves, which velocity matches the RF waves with the optical waves is disclosed. The apparatus includes a lithium niobate substrate on which is formed an optical waveguide, electrically floating electrodes, a low dielectric buffer layer and electrodes carrying the modulating RF energy. At least one floating electrode may comprise a series of spaced electrode segments for enhanced performance at high frequencies.
Claims18
A modulator for modulating optical waves with RF waves, comprising:
- a dielectric substrate;
- two optical waveguides situated at least partially within the substrate substantially parallel to each other;
- a transmission line including electrodes situated over the substrate for carrying the RF waves;
- a dielectric buffer layer for velocity matching the RF waves with the optical waves, situated generally between the substrate and the electrodes;
- and
- electrically floating electrode means generally situated between the substrate and the buffer layer, said floating electrode means including a series of electrically isolated floating electrode segments situated between said waveguides.
A modulator for modulating optical waves with an electromagnetic signal comprising:
- an electro-optic substrate having at least one optical waveguide for carrying said optical waves;
- a buffer layer disposed over said substrate;
- an electric transmission line disposed over said buffer layer having a signal-carrying electrode for carrying said electromagnetic signal and at least one ground electrode selectively spaced from said signal-carrying electrode defining a shunt capacitance therebetween, said electromagnetic signal modulates said optical waves by producing an electric field between said signal-carrying electrode and said ground electrode which couples with said optical waveguide;
- and
- floating electrode means adjacent to at least one side of said waveguide for increasing the shunt capacitance between said electrodes proximate said optical waveguide for increasing the coupling between said electric field and said optical waveguide, said floating electrode means including a series of floating electrode segments disposed between said buffer layer and said substrate, generally parallel to one side of said waveguide.
An optical modulator, modulated by RF energy, comprising:
- a dielectric substrate;
- an optical waveguide situated proximate the substrate;
- a plurality of electrically floating electrodes placed over the substrate for intensifying an electric field generated by the RF waves proximate the optical waveguide;
- at least one of said floating electrodes comprised of a series of spaced electrode segments;
- an intermediate dielectric buffer layer placed over said floating electrodes;
- and
- a plurality of electrodes placed over the intermediate dielectric layer for carrying the modulated RF energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.