Distributed amplifier optical modulator

1. An optoelectronic device comprising:

a waveguide structure including a plurality of optical modulator elements each having an optical property that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal so as to modulate light guided in said waveguide structure; and

a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier electrically coupled to one of said optical modulators to apply electrical signals thereto, and each amplifier having an input node and an output node,

wherein at least one of the plurality of amplifiers comprises one or more first type transistors electrically connected between a first reference potential and an output node and one or more second type transistors electrically connected between said output node and a second reference potential, said first and second type transistors being complementary, and each of the plurality of optical modulator elements is optically coupled in series to at least one other of the plurality of optical modulator elements.

2. The optoelectronic device of claim 1 , wherein said first type transistors comprise NFET transistors and said second type transistors comprise PFET transistors.

3. The optoelectronic device of claim 1 , wherein said first type transistors comprise npn bipolar transistors and said second type transistors comprise pnp bipolar transistors.

4. The optoelectronic device of claim 1 , further comprising active breakdown protection circuitry to limit the voltage drop across at least one transistor to prevent breakdown thereof.

5. An optoelectronic device comprising:

a waveguide structure including a plurality of optical modulator elements each having an optical property that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal so as to modulate light guided in said waveguide structure,

a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier electrically coupled to one of said optical modulators to apply electrical signals thereto, and each amplifier having an input node and an output node, wherein at least one of the plurality of amplifiers comprises one or more first type transistors electrically connected between a first reference potential and an output node and one or more second type transistors electrically connected between said output node and a second reference potential, said first and second type transistors being complementary, and

active breakdown protection circuitry to limit the voltage drop across at least one transistor to prevent breakdown thereof,

wherein the active breakdown protection circuitry includes at least one capacitor electrically connecting a node between two of said first type transistors to a node between two of said second type transistors.

6. The optoelectronic device of claim 5 , wherein said first type transistors comprise a first and a second NFET, and the said second type transistors comprise a first and a second PFET, and the said capacitor electrically connects a source of the first NFET and a drain of the second NFET to a source of the first PFET and a drain of the second PFET.

7. An optoelectronic device comprising:

a waveguide structure including a plurality of optical modulator elements each having an optical property that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal so as to modulate light guided in said waveguide structure,

a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier electrically coupled to one of said optical modulators to apply electrical signals thereto, and each amplifier having an input node and an output node, wherein at least one of the plurality of amplifiers comprises one or more first type transistors electrically connected between a first reference potential and an output node and one or more second type transistors electrically connected between said output node and a second reference potential, said first and second type transistors being complementary, and

active breakdown protection circuitry to limit the voltage drop across at least one transistor to prevent breakdown thereof,

wherein said active breakdown protection circuitry electrically connects a gate to a source or to a drain of a field effect transistor or electrically connects a base to an emitter or collector of a bipolar transistor.

8. An optoelectronic device comprising:

a waveguide structure including a plurality of optical modulator elements each having an optical property that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal so as to modulate light guided in said waveguide structure; and

a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier electrically coupled to one of said optical modulators to apply electrical signals thereto,

wherein at least one of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a single pair of complementary transistors, and each of the plurality of optical modulator elements is optically coupled in series to at least one other of the plurality of optical modulator elements.

9. The optoelectronic device of claim 8 , wherein the complementary transistors comprise npn and pnp bipolar transistors.

10. The optoelectronic device of claim 8 , wherein said the complementary transistors comprise NFET transistors and PFET transistors.