Patent ID: 7400788

Claim:
A linearized optical modulator, comprising: a first optical transmission path having an input and an output; a second optical transmission path having an input and an output; wherein said first and said second optical transmission paths are substantially coplanar so as to allow the coupling of optical signals therebetween; an electrical signal path, having an electrical input and an electrical output being overlaid on said second optical transmission path substantially throughout the region of coupling so as to facilitate the variable modulation of an optical signal in said first optical transmission path and said second optical transmission path by a variable electrical signal in said electrical signal path; a plurality of coupling functions between said first and said second optical transmission paths; wherein the distance between said first optical transmission path and said second optical transmission path at any point along said first or second optical transmission paths, is chosen according to a transfer function; wherein said transfer function is a function of said distance and each of said plurality of coupling functions between said first and said second optical transmission paths; wherein each of said plurality of coupling functions correspond, respectively, to each of said any point; wherein each of said plurality of coupling functions is positive for all range values; and wherein the Fourier transform of each of said plurality of coupling functions is positive for all range values.