Optical Modulator Ground Electrode Grooves Crosstalk Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mach-Zehnder interference type optical modulators face challenges with crosstalk between signal electrodes, particularly at high frequencies, which hinders miniaturization and signal integrity in compact network equipment.
Innovation Solution
The optical modulator incorporates a substrate with optical waveguides and modulation electrodes, including signal and ground electrodes with concave grooves on the ground electrodes to increase their surface area, allowing for reduced spacing between signal electrodes while effectively terminating electric field lines and suppressing crosstalk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If signal electrodes are disposed close to each other to miniaturize the optical modulator, then the device size is reduced, but crosstalk between signal electrodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
Ground electrodes are introduced as intermediary elements between signal electrodes to terminate electric field lines and suppress crosstalk. The ground electrodes act as mediators that intercept and divert electric field lines that would otherwise couple adjacent signal electrodes, enabling closer spacing while maintaining signal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the ground electrode structure into the vertical dimension by forming concave grooves on the substrate surface. This three-dimensional configuration increases the effective surface area of ground electrodes without increasing the planar footprint, thereby enhancing crosstalk suppression capability while maintaining compact device size.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If ground electrode surface area is increased to suppress crosstalk, then crosstalk is reduced, but the device area increases
Solution Approach 1:
Concave grooves are formed on the substrate surface to create three-dimensional ground electrode structures. This vertical extension increases the effective surface area of ground electrodes for terminating electric field lines without proportionally increasing the planar device footprint, thus suppressing crosstalk while maintaining compact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave grooves are formed within the existing device footprint area, effectively nesting additional ground electrode surface area within the boundaries of other components. This allows increased ground electrode area for crosstalk suppression without expanding the overall device dimensions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables the miniaturization of optical modulators while maintaining effective crosstalk suppression, even at high frequencies, by increasing the surface area of ground electrodes with concave grooves, allowing for closer signal electrode spacing and reduced signal loss.
Implementation Method 1
The ground electrode having an increased surface area due to the concave groove can effectively terminate the electric lines of force from each signal electrode
Implementation Method 2
modulate light waves propagating through the optical waveguides
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present invention is an optical modulator including a substrate, a plurality of optical waveguides, and a plurality of modulation electrodes provided on the substrate in order to modulate light propagating through the optical waveguides. The modulation electrodes include signal electrodes, to which modulation signals are supplied, and ground electrodes. The signal electrodes include first and second signal electrodes. The ground electrodes include a first ground electrode provided between the first and second signal electrodes, a second ground electrode provided on the opposite side of the first signal electrode from the first ground electrode adjacent to the first signal electrode, and a third ground electrode provided on the opposite side of the second signal electrode from the first ground electrode adjacent to the second signal electrode. A concave groove is formed in each of the first to third ground electrodes.