IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,042,684
Granted Patent B2
US 9,042,684 · App. 13/603,971 · Granted May 26, 2015

Electro-optic modulator

Inventors: Douglas M. Gill (South Orange, NJ); William M. Green (Astoria, NY); Alberto Valdes Garcia (Hartsdale, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G02F1/0356G02F1/0121
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,042,684
App. No.
13/603,971
Granted
May 26, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electro-optical modulator device includes an optical signal path partially defined by a waveguide portion, a radio frequency (RF) signal path partially defined by a conductive line portion, an interaction region where an RF signal propagating in the RF signal path interacts with an optical signal propagating in the optical signal path to modulate the optical signal, and a first tuning portion arranged proximate to the conductive line portion, the first tuning portion including a conductive portion and a switch portion operative to connect the conductive portion to ground.

Claims (28)

1. An electro-optical modulator device comprising:

an optical signal path partially defined by a waveguide portion;

a radio frequency (RF) signal path partially defined by a conductive line portion;

an interaction region where an RF signal propagating in the RF signal path interacts with an optical signal propagating in the optical signal path to modulate the optical signal; and

a first tuning portion arranged proximate to the conductive line portion, the first tuning portion including a conductive portion, a first switch portion and a second switch portion, each of the first switch portion and the second switch portion connected to the conductive portion and ground.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive portion is disposed in an arrangement overlapping the conductive line portion.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive portion of the first tuning portion is electrically isolated from the conductive line portion.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second tuning portion, the second tuning portion including a conductive portion and a switch portion operative to connect the conductive portion to ground.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller portion communicatively connected to the switch portion of the first tuning portion, the controller portion operative to control a state of the switch portion.

6. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a controller portion communicatively connected to the switch portion of the first tuning portion and the switch portion of the second tuning portion, the controller portion operative to control a state of the switch portion of the first tuning portion and a state of the switch portion of the second tuning portion.

7. An electro-optical modulator device system comprising:

an optical signal path partially defined by a waveguide portion;

a radio frequency (RF) signal path partially defined by a conductive line portion;

an interaction region where an RF signal propagating in the RF signal path interacts with an optical signal propagating in the optical signal path to modulate the optical signal;

a first tuning portion arranged proximate to the conductive line portion, the first tuning portion including a conductive portion, a first switch portion and a second switch portion, each of the first switch portion and the second switch portion connected to the conductive portion and ground; and

a controller portion communicatively connected to the switch portion of the first tuning portion, the controller portion operative to control a state of the switch portion.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the conductive portion is disposed in an arrangement overlapping the conductive line portion.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the conductive portion of the first tuning portion is electrically isolated from the conductive line portion.

10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a second tuning portion, the second tuning portion including a conductive portion and a switch portion operative to connect the conductive portion to ground.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller portion is communicatively connected to the switch portion of the first tuning portion and the switch portion of the second tuning portion, the controller portion operative to control a state of the switch portion of the first tuning portion and a state of the switch portion of the second tuning portion.

12. An electro-optical modulator device comprising:

a substrate;

a radio frequency (RF) signal path partially defined by a conductive line portion arranged on the substrate;

an optical signal path partially defined by a waveguide portion arranged on the substrate;

an interaction region where an RF signal propagating in the RF signal path interacts with an optical signal propagating in the optical signal path to modulate the optical signal; and

a first tuning portion arranged on the substrate proximate to the conductive line portion, the first tuning portion including a conductive portion, a first switch portion and a second switch portion, each of the first switch portion and the second switch portion connected to the conductive portion and ground.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the conductive portion is disposed in an arrangement overlapping the conductive line portion.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the conductive portion of the first tuning portion is electrically isolated from the conductive line portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2012
From: GILL, DOUGLAS M.; GREEN, WILLIAM M.; GARCIA, ALBERTO VALDES
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028906/0748 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140064653A1 · Mar 6, 2014