Patent ID: 7760343
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for determining Vπ of an optical modulator, the apparatus comprising: a. an RF source having an output that is electrically connected to an RF modulation input of the optical modulator, the RF source generating an RF modulation signal in a range of RF powers; b. an optical detector having an input that is optically coupled to an output of the optical modulator, the optical detector detecting a modulated optical signal generated by the optical modulator and generating an electrical detection signal at an output in response to the detected modulated optical signal; c. an RF power meter having at least one input that is coupled to the output of the RF source and that is coupled to the output of the optical detector, the RF power meter measuring an RF modulation signal power generated by the RF source and measuring an RF detection signal power generated by the optical detector; and d. a processor that calculates Vπ of the optical modulator from a RF modulation signal power corresponding to a minimum RF detection signal power measured with the RF power meter.