Optical Modulator and Methods of Making and Using the Same

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to an optical modulator including an m*n optical coupler, first and second waveguides coupled or connected to the m*n optical coupler, a first phase shifter coupled to the first waveguide, and first and second loop mirrors at respective ends of the first and second waveguides opposite from the m*n optical coupler. The m*n optical coupler is configured to combine substantially similar or identical continuous light beams (at least one of which may be phase-shifted) returned through the first and second waveguides by the first and second loop mirrors to form a modulated optical signal. A compound optical modulator, a modulated or modulatable laser, and methods of using and manufacturing the optical modulators, are also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of optical or optoelectronic transmitters, and particularly to optical modulators configured to modulate a continuous light beam to be output as an optical signal by an optical or optoelectronic transmitter.DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND[0002]Optical or optoelectronic transceivers (which may be generally identified as “optical transceivers”) convert electrical signals into optical signals and optical signals into electrical signals. An optical transceiver may include receiver and transmitter optical subassemblies, functional circuits, and electrical and optical interfaces, and are significant components in optical fiber communication systems and data storage networks.[0003]The transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) may include a laser diode configured to output a continuous light beam. The continuous light beam must be modulated to carry a data signal thereon. One way to modulate the intensity of a light beam is to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about an optical modulator that can improve the efficiency of a laser by reducing or eliminating reflected light from returning to the laser. The optical modulator has a reflective structure that doubles the efficiency of the phase shifter, which is used to apply electromagnetic fields to the phase shifter. The curved or arced phase shifter also reduces the modulator area and cancels out phase drift in different optical paths. Additionally, the invention includes an optical isolator to prevent reflected light from returning to the laser. The invention can be used in a modulated laser to generate multiple optical signals from a single laser or laser diode.

Problems solved by technology

However, direct modulation of such laser diodes may be undesirable due to high-bandwidth “chirping” that can occur when applying the current to and removing the current from the laser.

However, problems exist in optical modulators such as the optical modulator 100.

In addition, linear waveguide-phase shifter combinations such as waveguides 108a-b and high-speed phase shifters 112a-b can consume a relatively large area or amount of device real estate.

Also, relatively simple, non-tunable laser diodes emit light having a wavelength that changes or drifts slowly over time, but instantaneously with changes in temperature, and present compensation techniques are generally inadequate to fully compensate for such changes in output wavelength from such lasers.

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