Tunable electro-absorption modulator
AssigneeAgility Communications, Inc.
InventorTorsten Wipiejewski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tunable modulator includes an epitaxial structure formed on a substrate. The epitaxial structure includes a waveguide for light guiding, generally in form of a ridge, a trench for thermal insulation and an integrated heating element which, when a current is passed therethrough, heats the modulator and in turn changes the effective bandgap. This alters the wavelength that is best modulated resulting in a tunable modulator in accordance with the present invention. Literature [1] Beck Mason, Greg A. Fish, Steven P. DenBaars, Larry A. Coldren, “Widely Tunable Sampled Grating DBR Laser with Integrated Electroabsorption Modulator,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 11, no. 6 pp. Jun. 4-6, 1999 FIG. 4. [2] Lucent/Agere Application Note TN00008 on electro-absorption modulators (EML), May 2000.
Claims32
A tunable modulator assembly, comprising:
- a substrate;
- an epitaxial structure formed on the substrate;
- a modulator formed in the epitaxial structure;
- and
- a heating element adjacent the modulator;
- wherein the modulator comprise a trench.
A tunable modulator assembly, comprising:
- a substrate;
- an epitaxial structure formed on the substrate;
- a modulator formed in the epitaxial structure;
- and
- a heating element adjacent the modulator;
- where the modulator includes an underetched portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.