Patent ID: 7957646

Claim:
An optical time division multiplexing transmitter comprising: an optical time division multiplexer which generates time-division-multiplexed optical signals by time-division-multiplexing optical signals of a plurality of channels, the carrier-wave phases of which are shifted with respect to one another, the optical time division multiplexer including an optical splitter which splits an optical short-pulse train inputted from the outside into first and second carrier waves, a first optical modulator which generates a first optical signal by modulating the first carrier wave in accordance with a first electrical pulse signal inputted from the outside, and adjusts the phase of the first carrier wave, a second optical modulator which generates a second optical signal by modulating the second carrier wave in accordance with a second electrical pulse signal inputted from the outside, and adjusts the phase of the second carrier wave, and an optical coupler which generates a time-division-multiplexed optical signals by coupling the first optical signal and the second optical signal; an optical interference device which extends the pulse width of the time-division-multiplexed optical signals to a width equal to or more than the bit interval and superimposes the extended light of an adjacent bit on the extended light; an optical intensity detector which detects the intensity of the superimposed light outputted by the optical interference device; and a temperature regulator which adjusts the temperature of an optical waveguide provided in the first and second modulators so that the phase difference of the carrier waves constituting the adjacent optical signals is a half wavelength in accordance with the detection result of the optical intensity detector, wherein the phases of the first and second carrier waves are controlled by controlling the refractive index of the optical waveguide provided in the first and second modulators, and the refractive index of the optical waveguide is controlled by adjusting the temperature of the optical waveguide.