Wavelength converter with an impedance matched electro-absorption modulator pair

• US 20020085266A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oewaves Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oewaves Incorporated
• Inventors: Yao, Xiaotian Steve
• Application Number:
  US09/996,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085266A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/326
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0121 Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/015 based on semiconductor elements having potential barriers, e.g. having a PN or PIN junction G02F1/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2/004 Transferring the modulation of modulated light, i.e. transferring the information from one optical carrier of a first wavelength to a second optical carrier of a second wavelength, e.g. all-optical wavelength converter

Abstract

A wavelength converter including a chip having formed therein a first electro-absorption modulator biased as a photodetector, and a second electro-absorption modulator biased as a modulator electrically coupled to the first electro-absorption modulator. The first electro-absorption modulator detects an input signal at wavelength λ1 and generates an electrical signal to control the second electro-absorption modulator'"'"'s modulation of light from a wave source at wavelength λ2.

Claims

1. A wavelength converter, comprising:

a first electro-absorption modulator biased as a photodetector; and

a second electro-absorption modulator biased as a modulator electrically coupled to the first electro-absorption modulator.

2. The wavelength converter of claim 1, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator is electrically coupled to the second electro-absorption modulator by wire bonding.

3. The wavelength converter of claim 1, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator is electrically coupled to the second electro-absorption modulator via a coupling circuit.

4. The wavelength converter of claim 3, wherein the coupling circuit has the function of impedance matching, amplification, and filtering.

5. The wavelength converter of claim 1, wherein the impedance of the first electro-absorption modulator matches the impedance of the second electro-absorption modulator.

6. The wavelength converter of claim 5, wherein the impedance of the first electro-absorption modulator and the second electro-absorption modulator is approximately 1 kΩ

.

7. The wavelength converter of claim 1, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator and second electro-absorption modulator are electrically connected in parallel between a voltage potential and ground potential.

8. The wavelength converter of claim 1, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator and the second electro-absorption modulator are electrically connected in series between a voltage potential and ground potential.

9. The wavelength converter of claim 1, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator and the second electro-absorption modulator are formed within a chip.

10. The wavelength converter of claim 1, further comprising a wave source optically coupled to the second electro-absorption modulator.

11. The wavelength converter of claim 10, wherein the wave source is tunable.

12. The wavelength converter of claim 10, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator converts optical input data at a first wavelength into an electrical signal, and the second electro-absorption modulator modulates a signal output from the wave source at a second wavelength with the electrical signal to generate a data signal at the second wavelength.

13. The wavelength converter of claim 10, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator, the second electro-absorption modulator, and the wave source are formed within a chip.

14. The wavelength converter of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier optically upstream from the first electro-absorption modulator.

15. The wavelength converter of claim 14, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator, the second electro-absorption modulator, and the amplifier are formed within a chip.

16. The wavelength converter of claim 14, further comprising a wave source optically coupled to the second electro-absorption modulator.

17. The wavelength converter of claim 16, wherein the first electro-absorption modulator, the second electro-absorption modulator, the amplifier, and the wave source are formed within a chip.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of amplifying the optical input data before converting the optical input data into an electrical signal.

18. A method of wavelength conversion, comprising the steps of:

converting optical input data at a first wavelength into an electrical signal using a first electro-absorption modulator; and

modulating a signal output from a wave source at a second wavelength with the electrical signal using a second electro-absorption modulator to generate a data signal at the second wavelength.