Patent ID: 7532778
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. An optical waveguide modulator comprising: an optical waveguide element comprising a dielectric substrate and an optical waveguide on a front surface of the dielectric substrate, the optical waveguide comprising a plurality of surface optical waveguide portions, an optical waveguide connecting portion on which the surface optical waveguide portions are converged and connected to each other, and an output light-outputting optical waveguide portion connected to the optical waveguide connecting portion; an optical fiber for output light, connected to an output end of the output light-outputting optical waveguide portion of the optical waveguide element; a transparent reinforcing capillary for reinforcing a connection between the optical waveguide element and the output light-outputting optical fiber; and means for receiving a monitoring light, wherein the transparent reinforcing capillary is provided with a hole formed therein for containing and holding the optical fiber for output light, a connection surface thereof connected to an output end side surface of the dielectric substrate, and a terminal reflecting surface thereof opposite to the connection surface; the transparent reinforcing capillary is formed from a light-transmittable glass and configured to enable radiation mode light generated in the optical waveguide connecting portion to pass through the dielectric substrate to be received by the transparent reinforcing capillary, and to be transmitted toward the terminal reflecting surface; the means for receiving a monitoring light is located in a position in which the monitoring light outputted from the reinforcing capillary to outside of the capillary is received, and is provided with a photoelectric conversion element; the terminal reflecting surface is provided with a monitoring surface portion configured to reflect a first portion of the radiation mode light toward the means for receiving a monitoring light, a non-monitoring surface portion configured to block a second portion of the radiation mode light, the second portion of the radiation mode light being different from the first portion of the radiation mode light, from being received by the means for receiving a monitoring light; the terminal reflecting surface intersects the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hole in which the output light-outputting optical fiber is received at an oblique angle to enable the radiation mode light reflected on the terminal reflecting surface to be received as monitoring light by the means for receiving a monitoring light; and the transparent reinforcing capillary is configured to enable the radiation mode light to be received on the connection surface thereof, to transmit from the connecting surface to the terminal surface of the capillary through the transparent capillary, to output a portion of the radiation mode light to be reflected on the terminal surface as a monitoring light toward the means for receiving a monitoring light, and to stably hold the optical fiber connected to the output end of the optical waveguide.