Patent ID: 6535320
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
A traveling wave, linearized, modulator device comprising:an electro-optical modulator comprising a substrate; an optical waveguide disposed on said substrate and comprising an input-output portion, a terminal portion having a distal end and a plurality of arms disposed between and connected to said input-output portion and said terminal portion, said arms being offset with respect to said input-output portion and said terminal portion and extending parallel to each other, and at least a first one of said arms having an optical characteristic that varies responsive to supplying of an electric field thereto; a reflective means located at the distal end of said terminal portion of said optical waveguide for causing light entering said input-output portion and propagating through said optical waveguide to be reflected back through the optical waveguide so as to exit through said input-output portion; and a traveling wave electrode structure disposed on said substrate and terminating in an open circuit substantially at the distal end of said terminal portion of the optical waveguide, said electrode structure including an electrode disposed on said first arm of said plurality of optical waveguide arms so as to supply an electric field to said first arm responsive to an electrical voltage being supplied to said electrode, said open circuit and said electrode structure matching velocities of an electrical and an optical waveform both as said light enters said waveguide and as said light is reflected back out of said waveguide; and means for supplying a radio frequency signal and a direct current bias to said first electrode such that the radio frequency signal is biased at a non-quadrature bias point providing minimum third-order distortion, thereby providing substantially linearized modulator operation.