Patent ID: 7840099

Claim:
An optical modulator structure comprising: at least two waveguide structures for inputting and outputting an optical signal; and at least one ring resonator structure that provides coupling between said at least two waveguide structures, said at least one ring resonator structure comprising Ge or SiGe, wherein one or more segments of Ge or SiGe channel waveguide structures are inserted into said at least two waveguide structures only at an area within an evanescent optical field of said at least one ring resonator structure to enhance coupling between said at least two waveguide structures and said at least one ring resonator structure, wherein said at least two waveguide structures are located laterally next to said at least one ring resonator structure and wherein said at least one ring resonator structure and said least two waveguide structures produce a finesse factor (Q) of at least 100.