Patent ID: 8014639
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B82Y,G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. A photonic integrated circuit which generates a NOR function digital optical output from a pair of digital optical inputs, comprising: a first pair of optical waveguide devices formed on a substrate, with the first pair of optical waveguide devices comprising a first electroabsorption modulator which is electrically connected in series with a first photodetector, with the first electroabsorption modulator receiving an input of continuous light, and with the first photodetector receiving a first digital optical input of the pair of digital optical inputs to generate therefrom a photocurrent signal which changes a reverse-bias voltage on the first electroabsorption modulator to generate a digitally-modulated output from the input of continuous light; and a second pair of optical waveguide devices formed on the substrate, with the second pair of optical waveguide devices comprising a second electroabsorption modulator which is electrically connected in series with a second photodetector, with the second electroabsorption modulator receiving the digitally-modulated output from the first electroabsorption modulator, and with the second photodetector receiving a second digital optical input of the pair of digital optical inputs to generate therefrom another photocurrent signal which changes the reverse bias voltage on the second electroabsorption modulator to convert the digitally-modulated output into the NOR function digital optical output.