Patent ID: 7228013

Claim:
An optical phase modulator, comprising: a plurality of polarizing waveguides having a layered stack including a core between at least one layer of cladding material, wherein said core is constructed of electro-optic material(s), wherein said layers of cladding materials having lower indices of refraction than said core for guided mode, wherein said layer of cladding material having higher indices of refraction than said core for non-guided mode; a plurality of ports coupled to said waveguides; at least one electrode coupled to at least one said waveguide including a modulating non-polarizing region; at least one waveguide having a non-modulating polarizing region; means for applying an external electrical field to each said electrode; a light that propagates into each said waveguide; at least one coupler/splitter for coupling and splitting said light into a plurality of said waveguides; wherein said coupler/splitter and said splitter ports are polarizing waveguides; a substrate dimensioned and configured to integrate a plurality of optical components, wherein said optical components include a plurality of said polarizing and non-polarizing waveguide(s), a waveguide having a polarizing non-modulating region and a non-polarizing modulating region, said coupler/splitter(s), and said electrode(s); and a waveguide configuration including a first polarizing waveguide, wherein said first waveguide is coupled to said coupler/splitter, wherein said coupler/splitter including a plurality of splitter ports, wherein each said splitter ports are coupled to a second polarizing waveguide and a third polarizing waveguide, wherein at least one of said second waveguide or said third waveguide includes a non-polarizing modulating region, wherein said second waveguide and said third waveguide each include a said port.