Patent ID: 7394948

Claim:
A method of modulating a light signal, comprising: applying bias signals to a plurality of phase modulators positioned along a waveguide such that each of the phase modulators receives a different one of the bias signals, the waveguide being on a substrate and having a light signal carrying region, each of the phase modulators including an n-type region having a proximity to a p-type region that causes a depletion region to form when a bias is not applied to the modulator, the depletion region being at least partially positioned in the light signal carrying region of the waveguide, the application of the bias signals to each of the phase modulators causing modulation of a light signal traveling through the waveguide by changing the depletion regions; and delaying the application of the bias signals to different phase modulators, the delay synchronizing the light signal and the bias signals so each bias signal causes modulation of the same portion of the light signal.