Attenuator having reduced optical loss in the pass mode

1. An optical device, comprising:

a ridge waveguide defined by a ridge extending from a slab of a light transmitting medium;

trenches extending into the slab of light transmitting medium and being positioned on opposing sides of the ridge, at least one of the trenches being associated with a trench displacement tapering from a first displacement to a second displacement, the trench displacement being a distance between the ridge and a side of a trench closest to the ridge; and

at least one electrical contact positioned in at least one of the trenches.

2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein each of the trenches is associated with a trench displacement that tapers from a first displacement to a second displacement.

3. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one electrical contact is positioned in each trench.

4. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of electrical contacts are positioned in at least one trench.

5. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical contact is positioned over a region of the light transmitting medium doped with an impurity.

6. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a length of at least one trench has a trench displacement that is substantially constant and the at least one electrical contact is positioned along the length of the at least one trench.

7. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the trench displacement tapers from an end of the trench to the second displacement.

8. The optical device of claim 7 , wherein the trench displacement expands from the second displacement to a second end of the trench.

9. The optical device of claim 7 , wherein a ratio of the trench displacement at the end of the trench to the second trench displacement is greater than 1.1.

10. The optical device of claim 7 , wherein the trench displacement at the end of the trench is greater than 6 μm.

11. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the dimensions of the waveguuide change in association with the waveguide passing the trenches.

12. The optical device of claim 11 , wherein a width of the waveguide expands before the waveguide passes one or more electrical contacts.

13. The optical device of claim 11 , wherein at least one doped region is positioned in the bottom of a trench and wherein a width of the waveguide expands before the waveguide passes one or more of the doped regions.

14. The optical device of claim 11 , wherein a width of the waveguide expands such that at least a portion of the expansion is between the trenches.

15. The optical device of claim 11 , wherein a width of the waveguide expands such that the entire expansion is outside of a region extending between the trenches.

16. An optical device, comprising:

a ridge waveguide defined by a ridge extending from a slab of a light transmitting medium;

trenches extending into the slab of light transmitting medium and being positioned on opposing sides of the ridge; and

a plurality of electrical contacts positioned in each trench.

17. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one electrical contact is positioned over a region of the light transmitting medium doped with an impurity.

18. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the trenches is associated with a trench displacement that tapers from a first displacement to a second displacement, the trench displacement being a distance between the ridge and a side of a trench closest to the ridge.

19. The optical device of claim 18 , wherein a straight length of at least one trench has a trench displacement that is substantially constant and the at least one electrical contact is positioned along the straight length of the at least one trench, the trench displacement being a distance between the ridge and a side of a trench closest to the ridge.

20. The optical device of claim 18 , wherein the trench displacement tapers from an end of the trench to the second displacement.

21. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein a ratio of the trench displacement at the end of the trench to the second trench displacement is greater than 1.1.

22. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein the dimensions of the waveguuide change in association with the waveguide passing the trenches.

23. The optical device of claim 22 , wherein a width of the waveguide expands before the waveguide passes one or more electrical contacts.

24. A method of forming an optical device having an optical device, comprising:

forming a ridge extending from a slab of a light transmitting medium, the ridge being configured to serve as a ridge waveguide;

forming trenches extending into the slab of light transmitting medium on opposing sides of the ridge, at least one of the trenches being associated with a trench displacement tapering from a first displacement to a second displacement, the trench displacement being a distance between the ridge and a side of a trench closest to the ridge; and

forming at least one electrical contact in at least one of the trenches.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein each of the trenches is associated with a trench displacement that tapers from a first displacement to a second displacement.

26. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

forming at least one doped region in the bottom of at least one trench before forming the electrical contacts and wherein at least one of the electrical contacts is formed over a doped region.

27. A method of forming an optical device having an optical optical device, comprising:

forming a ridge extending from a slab of a light transmitting medium, the ridge being configured to serve as a waveguide;

forming trenches extending into the slab of light transmitting medium and being positioned on opposing sides of the ridge; and

forming a plurality of electrical contacts in each trench.