Patent ID: 6778309
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B82Y,G02F

Abstract:
An electroabsorption optical modulator for providing intensity-based modulation to an input CW optical signal, said modulator comprisingan electroabsorption modulator element including an active light guiding core region surrounded by a cladding region, said modulator further including an electrode disposed over said cladding region and responsive to an electrical digital data signal, wherein the presence of the electrical digital data signal modifies the index of refraction within said active core region so as to provide intensity modulation to an input CW optical signal propagating through said core region, the intensity-modulated output signal from said electroabsorption modulator element exhibiting a degree of frequency chirp associated with the intensity modulation process; and a phase modulator element disposed contiguous with said electroabsorption modulator element, said phase modulator including an active light guiding core region surrounded by a cladding region, said phase modulator further including an electrode disposed over, said cladding region and responsive to a chirp tuning input drive signal comprising the complement of the electrical digital data signal, wherein the amplitude or the phase of the chirp tuning input drive signal, or both are modified to control the amount of frequency chirp present in the output signal from the electroabsorption modulator element.