Optical Modulator With Reversers for Compact Phase Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical modulators, such as silicon-based and lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder modulators, are large in size, hindering integration and miniaturization, and suffer from significant electrical signal loss due to long phase modulation areas.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating reversers within the optical modulator structure to allow optical signals to undergo phase modulation twice back and forth in each electro-optic phase shifter, reducing the length of phase modulation areas and integrating microring resonators for delay compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional optical modulators use traditional Mach-Zehnder structures with long phase modulation areas, then modulation performance is maintained, but device size becomes large and integration is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The optical signal undergoes continuous phase modulation by traveling back and forth through the phase modulation area multiple times. The reverser reflects the modulated signal back through the same electro-optic phase shifter, enabling the useful action of phase modulation to occur continuously over a longer effective path without requiring a proportionally longer device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the phase modulation process by having the optical signal traverse the modulation region multiple times in sequence rather than once in a straight line. This multi-pass approach effectively increases the interaction length between light and the electro-optic material without proportionally increasing the physical device footprint
2Length of stationary object
If the phase modulation area length is reduced to decrease device size, then integration is improved, but electrical signal loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
By maintaining continuous phase modulation through multiple passes of the optical signal through the shortened phase modulation area, the system achieves sufficient total modulation depth despite the reduced single-pass interaction length. The cumulative effect of multiple modulation passes compensates for the shorter individual pass length
Solution Approach 2:
The optical signal undergoes periodic modulation as it traverses the phase modulation area multiple times in succession. Each pass through the electro-optic phase shifter applies a modulation cycle, and the periodic repetition of this action accumulates the desired phase modulation effect over multiple cycles rather than requiring a single long interaction
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 design effectively reduces the size of the optical modulator, improves integration, and enhances signal quality by reducing electrical signal loss and enabling pre-compensation for dispersion, facilitating high-speed and large-capacity communication.
Implementation Method 1
a first electro-optic phase shifter and a second electro-optic phase shifter that are connected to the beam combiner/splitter... perform first phase modulation on the first optical signal... perform second phase modulation on the second optical signal
Implementation Method 2
The first reverser is configured to adjust a transmission direction of the first modulated optical signal from a first transmission direction to a second transmission direction... The second reverser is configured to adjust a transmission direction of the third modulated optical signal from a third transmission direction to a fourth transmission direction
Implementation Method 3
the beam combiner/splitter is configured to: split an input optical signal into a first optical signal and a second optical signal... combine the second modulated optical signal and the fourth modulated optical signal to form a modulated optical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical modulator, a transmitting apparatus, a communication system, and a modulation method are provided. The optical modulator includes a beam combiner/splitter, a first electro-optic phase shifter and a second electro-optic phase shifter that are connected to the beam combiner/splitter, a first reverser connected to the first electro-optic phase shifter, and a second reverser connected to the second electro-optic phase shifter. The beam combiner/splitter splits an input optical signal into a first optical signal and a second optical signal, inputs the first optical signal into the first electro-optic phase shifter, and inputs the second optical signal into the second electro-optic phase shifter. Because the first (second) reverser is disposed, the first (second) optical signal can be reversely transmitted after undergoing phase modulation once, so that the first (second) optical signal undergoes phase modulation twice back and forth in a phase modulation area of the first electro-optic phase shifter.