Optical ring modulator thermal tuning technique
First Claim
1. An optical signal modulator comprising:
- a waveguide receiving an optical signal;
an optical ring adapted to receive a portion of the optical signal via optical coupling;
a first plurality of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along an outer periphery of the optical ring, said plurality of diodes being separated from the optical ring by a distance, said first plurality of diodes generating a first electrical signal;
a second plurality of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along the outer periphery of the optical ring, said second plurality of diodes generating a second electrical signal;
a doped region adapted to generate heat to the optical ring; and
a control circuit adapted to control a temperature of the optical ring in accordance with the first and second electrical signals.
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Abstract
An optical signal modulator (modulator) includes, in part, a first multitude of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along an outer periphery of the optical ring of the modulator, a second multitude of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along the outer periphery of the optical ring, and a doped region adapted to supply heat to the optical ring. A pair of current sources supply substantially constant currents to the first and second multitude of diodes to generate a pair of electrical signals. The modulator further includes, in part, a control circuit adapted to control the temperature of the optical ring in accordance with the pair electrical signals. To achieve this, the control circuit varies the voltage applied to the doped region to vary the supplied heat. Alternatively, the control circuit applies a voltage to the optical ring to maintain a substantially constant resonant wavelength in the optical ring.
77 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical signal modulator comprising:
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a waveguide receiving an optical signal; an optical ring adapted to receive a portion of the optical signal via optical coupling; a first plurality of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along an outer periphery of the optical ring, said plurality of diodes being separated from the optical ring by a distance, said first plurality of diodes generating a first electrical signal; a second plurality of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along the outer periphery of the optical ring, said second plurality of diodes generating a second electrical signal; a doped region adapted to generate heat to the optical ring; and a control circuit adapted to control a temperature of the optical ring in accordance with the first and second electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of modulating an optical signal, the method comprising:
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supplying an optical signal to a waveguide; coupling a portion of the optical signal to an optical ring; generating a first electrical signal via a first plurality of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along an outer periphery of the optical ring, said plurality of diodes being separated from the optical ring by a distance; generating a second electrical signal via a second plurality of diodes coupled in parallel and disposed along the outer periphery of the optical ring; supplying heat to the optical ring via a doped region formed near a portion of the optical ring; and controlling the temperature of the optical ring in accordance with the first and second electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification