Patent ID: 11874538
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. An optical signal modulator for modulating an optical carrier signal, comprising:
a directional coupler comprising an input terminal for receiving light, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, wherein:
the directional coupler is configured to receive light and split the light into a first part for outputting at the first output terminal and a second part for outputting at the second output terminal,
the directional coupler comprises a first waveguide physically connected between the input terminal and the first output terminal, and
the first waveguide comprises a first curved portion, a second curved portion, and a linear portion between the first curved portion and the second curved portion;

a first ring modulator optically coupled to the first output terminal and configured to control an amount of the first part of the light passing therethrough based upon a first differential signal applied to the first ring modulator to generate a first output;
a second ring modulator optically coupled to the second output terminal and configured to control an amount of the second part of the light passing therethrough based upon a second differential signal applied to the second ring modulator to generate a second output; and
an optical signal combiner optically coupled to the first ring modulator and to the second ring modulator and configured to combine the first output and the second output to generate a combined output.