Patent ID: 9209606
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) which is monolithically integrated with a Mach-Zehnder modulator, comprising: one or more input access waveguides connected to an optical splitter or a Y-branch optical splitter; a directional coupler, or a 1×N or N×N Multi-Mode-Interference MMI, that is arranged to divide light into two or more output waveguides, and at least two of the splitter's output access waveguides form a Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulator where at least one arm of the interferometer has a phase modulator electrode; and a single electrical contact arranged to apply a common voltage simultaneously to a selected portion in each arm, or selected portions in each arm of the waveguides that are disposed after the splitter but preceding the phase modulation electrodes, or alternatively said single electrical contact is arranged to apply said voltage to a selected portion of the input access waveguide connected to said splitter and in one or more selected portions of one or both of said arms after the splitter but preceding the phase modulation electrodes to provide gain or reduced optical loss.