Patent ID: 7142788
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. An optical transmitter, comprising: an optical source; a four port polarization splitter/coupler having a first port connected to the optical source, having a second port for outputting optical data signals, and having third and fourth ports; first and second polarization converters, each having a first port connected to the third and fourth ports of the splitter/combiner, respectively, and each having a second port, wherein the first and second polarization converters convert first and second optical data signals having same polarization orientations, and received at the second ports of the first and second polarization converters, into first and second optical data signals having different polarization orientations at the first ports of the polarization converters; a modulator having first and second optical ports respectively connected to the second ports of the polarization converters, and having a plurality of electrical input terminals; wherein the splitter/combiner splits an optical carrier received from the optical source at the first port of the splitter/combiner into first and second optical carrier components having different polarization orientations and outputs the first and second optical carrier components at the third and fourth ports of the splitter/combiner and the splitter/combiner combines the first and second optical data signals having different polarization orientations and outputs the combined optical data signals at the second port of the splitter/combiner; and wherein the first and second polarization converters convert first and second optical carrier components having different polarization orientations, and received at the first ports of the first and second polarization converters, into first and second optical carrier components having same polarization orientations and outputs the first and second optical carrier components have the same polarization orientations at the second ports of the polarization converters.