Variable chirp optical modulator using single modulation source
First Claim
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1. An electro-optic device for providing a modulated output optical signal, said device comprising:
- a first directional coupler means for receiving an optical signal having an intensity and generating therefrom first and second major optical signals each having a value of power selected in response to received command signals;
a first interferometer receiving said first major optical signal, and includinga first interferometer input optical coupler for providing first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals;
first and second optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and
a first interferometer output optical coupler for combining said first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals;
a second interferometer receiving said second major optical signal, and includinga second interferometer input optical coupler for providing second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals;
third and fourth optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and
a second interferometer output optical coupler for combining said second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals;
a modulation means for providing, in response to received modulation control signals, a single modulation signal to optical signals propagating in modulation legs of said first and second interferometers, said single modulation signal having asymmetric phase modulation magnitudes in said first and second interferometer modulation legs; and
a second directional coupler means for receiving modulated optical signals from said interferometers, and generating therefrom a combined modulated optical signal having a power from each of said modulated optical signals selected in response to received command signals.
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Abstract
A variable chirp electro-optic modulator is provided that uses a single modulation signal. The modulator has several optical paths in the proximity of one or more modulation electrodes which are driven equally by a single modulation source. The amount of chirp desired of the modulator is controlled by varying the optical amplitude or phase of the light in the different paths.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electro-optic device for providing a modulated output optical signal, said device comprising:
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a first directional coupler means for receiving an optical signal having an intensity and generating therefrom first and second major optical signals each having a value of power selected in response to received command signals; a first interferometer receiving said first major optical signal, and including a first interferometer input optical coupler for providing first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; first and second optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a first interferometer output optical coupler for combining said first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a second interferometer receiving said second major optical signal, and including a second interferometer input optical coupler for providing second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; third and fourth optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a second interferometer output optical coupler for combining said second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a modulation means for providing, in response to received modulation control signals, a single modulation signal to optical signals propagating in modulation legs of said first and second interferometers, said single modulation signal having asymmetric phase modulation magnitudes in said first and second interferometer modulation legs; and a second directional coupler means for receiving modulated optical signals from said interferometers, and generating therefrom a combined modulated optical signal having a power from each of said modulated optical signals selected in response to received command signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 16, 17, 20)
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9. An electro-optic device for providing a modulated output optical signal, said device comprising:
a first interferometer receiving an optical signal having an intensity, and including a first interferometer input optical coupler for providing first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; first and second optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a first interferometer output optical coupler for combining said first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a first directional coupler means receiving a modulated first interferometer output signal and generating therefrom first and second major optical signals each having a value of power selected in response to received command signals a second interferometer receiving said major optical signals, and including a second interferometer input optical coupler for providing second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; third and fourth optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a second interferometer output optical coupler for combining said second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a modulation means for providing, in response to received modulation control signals, a single modulation signal to optical signals propagating in modulation legs of said first and second interferometers, said single modulation signal having asymmetric phase modulation magnitudes in said first and second interferometer modulation legs; and a second directional coupler means for receiving modulated optical signals from said second interferometer, and generating therefrom a combined modulated optical signal having a power from each of said modulated optical signals selected in response to received command signals. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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12. An electro-optic circuit for modulating an optical beam, said circuit comprising:
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an optical source for generating an optical beam; an optical fiber transmission means for guiding said optical beam; an electro-optic device including a first directional coupler means for receiving an optical signal having an intensity and generating therefrom first and second major optical signals each having a value of power selected in response to received command signals; a first interferometer receiving said first major optical signal, and including a first interferometer input optical coupler for providing first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; first and second optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a first interferometer output optical coupler for combining said first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a second interferometer receiving said second major optical signal, and including a second interferometer input optical coupler for providing second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; third and fourth optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a second interferometer output optical coupler for combining said second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a modulation means for providing, in response to received modulation control signals, a single modulation signal to optical signals propagating in modulation legs of said first and second interferometers, said single modulation signal having asymmetric phase modulation magnitudes in said first and second interferometer modulation legs; and a second directional coupler means for receiving modulated optical signals from said interferometers, and generating therefrom a combined modulated optical signal having a power from each of said modulated optical signals selected in response to received command signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 18)
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13. An electro-optic circuit for modulating an optical beam, said circuit comprising:
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an optical source for generating an optical beam; an optical fiber transmission means for guiding said optical beam; an electro-optic device including a first interferometer receiving an optical signal having an intensity, and including a first interferometer input optical coupler for providing first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; first and second optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a first interferometer output optical coupler for combining said first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a first directional coupler means receiving a modulated first interferometer output signal and generating therefrom first and second major optical signals each having a value of power selected in response to received command signals a second interferometer receiving said major optical signals, and including a second interferometer input optical coupler for providing second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; third and fourth optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a second interferometer output optical coupler for combining said second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a modulation means for providing, in response to received modulation control signals, a single modulation signal to optical signals propagating in modulation legs of said first and second interferometers, said single modulation signal having asymmetric phase modulation magnitudes in said first and second interferometer modulation legs; and a second directional coupler means for receiving modulated optical signals from said second interferometer, and generating therefrom a combined modulated optical signal having a power from each of said modulated optical signals selected in response to received command signals.
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19. An electro-optic device for providing a modulated output optical signal, said device comprising:
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a first directional coupler means for receiving an optical signal having an intensity and generating therefrom first and second major optical signals each having a value of power selected in response to received command signals; a first interferometer receiving said first major optical signal, and including a first interferometer input optical coupler for providing first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; first and second optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a first interferometer output optical coupler for combining said first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a second interferometer receiving said second major optical signal, and including a second interferometer input optical coupler for providing second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; third and fourth optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a second interferometer output optical coupler for combining said second interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; a modulation means for providing, in response to received modulation control signals, a single modulation signal to optical signals propagating in modulation legs of said first and second interferometers, said single modulation signal having asymmetric phase modulation magnitudes in said first and second interferometer modulation legs; a second directional coupler means for receiving modulated optical signals from said interferometers, and generating therefrom a combined modulated optical signal having a power from each of said modulated optical signals selected in response to received command signals; primary input directional coupler means for receiving said optical signal prior to the presentation thereof to said first interferometer and for generating therefrom first and second primary major optical signals each having a value of power selected in response to received primary command signals, said first primary major optical signal presented to said first interferometer first directional coupler means; a supplemental interferometer receiving said second primary major optical signal, and including a supplemental interferometer input optical coupler for providing supplemental interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; first and second supplemental interferometer optical waveguides for respectively guiding said received supplemental interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a supplemental interferometer output optical coupler for combining said first interferometer reference and modulation optical signals; and a primary output directional coupler means for receiving modulated optical signals from said interferometers, and generating therefrom a combined output optical signal having a power from each of said modulated optical signals selected in response to received primary command signals.
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Specification