Patent ID: 7016555
Filing Date: 2006-03-21
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. An electrooptic modulator comprising an optical waveguide, a cladding optically coupled to said optical waveguide, an optically functional cladding region defined in at least a portion of said cladding, and a modulation controller configured to provide a modulating control signal to said optically functional cladding region, wherein: said optically functional cladding region defines a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to said modulating control signal; said refractive index of said optically functional cladding region is lower than a refractive index of said optical waveguide at an operational wavelength and an operational temperature of said device; said optical waveguide is configured to split a propagating optical signal into first and second optical waveguide arms; at least said second optical waveguide arm passes through said optically functional region; said optical waveguide is configured to recombine respective propagating optical signals from said first and second optical waveguide arms after at least one of said signals passes through said optically functional region; said modulation controller is configured to generate an electric field in a portion of said optically functional region associated with said second optical waveguide arm through application of a biased modulating RF control signal that comprises a bias component and a variable drive component; said bias component of said biased modulating RF control signal defines a magnitude that is at least an order of magnitude large than said drive component; and a magnitude and orientation of said electric field in said optically functional region of said second optical waveguide arm is sufficient to alter the refractive index of said optically functional region of said second optical waveguide arm.