Patent ID: 8238758

Claim:
An optical transmitter, comprising: a laser configured to supply a first optical signal; a first splitter configured to supply a first portion of the optical signal and a second portion of the optical signal; a first modulator configured to receive the first portion of the optical signal; a second modulator configured to receive the second portion of the optical signal, the first modulator including: a second splitter having an input configured to receive the first portion of the optical signal, and first, second, and third outputs, first, second, and third waveguides, each of which being coupled to a corresponding one of the first, second, and third outputs of the second splitter the second splitter being configured to supply a substantially equal amount of optical power to each of the first, second, and third waveguides; a coupler having first, second, and third inputs, each of which being coupled to the first, second, and third waveguides, respectively, the coupler further having an output; a first electrode provided adjacent the first waveguide, the first electrode being configured to modulate a refractive index of a portion of the first waveguide in accordance with first information associated with a first data stream; a second electrode provided adjacent the second waveguide, the second electrode being configured to adjust a refractive index of a portion of the second waveguide; a third electrode provided adjacent the third waveguide, the third electrode being configured to modulate a refractive index of a portion of the third waveguide in accordance with a second information associated with a second data stream, wherein the output of the coupler supplies a second optical signal carrying the first and second information.