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US 9,069,223 B2Granted
Mach-Zehnder optical modulator using a balanced coplanar stripline with lateral ground planes
AssigneeTeraxion Inc.
InventorKelvin Prosyk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Mach-Zehnder optical modulator with a series push-pull traveling wave electrode uses a balanced coplanar stripline with lateral ground planes. Two signal electrodes extend along the center of the optical modulator adjacent and parallel to the optical waveguides in a series push-pull configuration. The ground planes run parallel to the signal electrodes, but are spaced laterally outward from the signal electrodes.
Claims6
A Mach-Zehnder optical modulator comprising:
- two optical waveguides;
- a beamsplitter dividing an input optical signal into two optical signals propagating in parallel along the optical waveguides;
- a series push-pull traveling wave electrode having two signal electrodes extending parallel and adjacent to the optical waveguides with no ground electrode interposed between the two signal electrodes, said signal electrodes carrying a differential electrical modulation signal to induce a change in relative phase of the optical signals along the optical waveguides;
- ground planes running parallel to the signal electrodes and spaced laterally outward from the signal electrodes and providing a return path to ground for the differential electrical modulation signal;
- a common conductive plane between the optical waveguides providing a signal path for the differential electrical modulation signal between the signal electrodes through the optical waveguides without providing a return path to ground for the differential electrical modulation signal;
- and
- an optical element recombining the optical signals exiting the optical waveguides into an output optical signal.
4 more elements
A Mach-Zehnder optical modulator comprising:
- two optical waveguides, each optical waveguide having a first surface and a second surface;
- a beamsplitter dividing an input optical signal into two optical signals propagating in parallel along the optical waveguides;
- a series push-pull traveling wave electrode having two signal electrodes extending parallel and adjacent to the optical waveguides, said signal electrodes carrying a differential electrical modulation signal to induce a change in relative phase of the optical signals along the optical waveguides with no ground electrode interposed between the two signal electrodes;
- a plurality of pairs of waveguide electrodes extending from the signal electrodes and coupled to the second surfaces of the optical waveguides at spaced intervals along the optical waveguides;
- a common conductive plane between the first surfaces of the optical waveguides to provide a signal path for the differential electrical modulation signal between the signal electrodes through the waveguide electrodes and optical waveguides without providing a return path to ground for the differential electrical modulation signal;
- and
- ground planes running parallel to the signal electrodes and spaced laterally outward from the signal electrodes and providing a return path to ground for the differential electrical modulation signal;
- an optical element recombining the optical signals exiting the optical waveguides into an output optical signal.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.