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US5652807A
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Semiconductor optical modulator
Assignee: NEC Corp
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Filing: 1996-08-19
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Granted: 1997-07-29
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Expires: 2016-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a semiconductor optical modulator which has: semiconductor input-light waveguide with an incidence end; a semiconductor Y-branch element for branching light from the semiconductor input-light waveguide into two equal lights; first and second semiconductor optical waveguides for propagating the two lights, respectively branched by the semiconductor Y-branch element; first and second electrodes provided on the first and second optical waveguides, respectively; a semiconductor optical coupling element for coupling the two lights passed through the first and second optical waveguides; and a semiconductor output-light waveguide for leading light coupled in the semiconductor optical coupling element to an emission end of the semiconductor output-light waveguide; wherein the semiconductor optical modulator is provided with a means for producing a phase difference of 180° between the two lights input to the semiconductor optical coupling element when equal voltages are applied to the first and second electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Fukuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/21; G02F1/225; G02F1/2257; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/20; G02F2203/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, comprising: a semiconductor input-light waveguide with an incidence end; a semiconductor Y-branch element for branching light from said semiconductor input-light waveguide into two equal lights; first and second semiconductor optical waveguides for propagating said two lights, respectively branched by said semiconductor Y-branch element; first and second electrodes provided on said first and second optical waveguides, respectively; a semiconductor optical coupling element for coupling said two lights passed through said first and second optical waveguides; and a semiconductor output-light waveguide for leading light coupled in said semiconductor optical coupling element to an emission end of said semiconductor output-light waveguide; wherein said semiconductor optical modulator is provided with a means for producing a phase difference of 180° between said two lights input to said semiconductor optical coupling element when equal voltages are applied to said first and second electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, comprising: a semiconductor input-light waveguide with an incidence end; a semiconductor Y-branch element for branching light from said semiconductor input-light waveguide into two equal lights; first and second semiconductor optical waveguides for propagating said two lights, respectively branched by said semiconductor Y-branch element; first and second electrodes provided on said first and second optical waveguides, respectively; a semiconductor optical coupling element for coupling said two lights passed through said first and second optical waveguides; and a semiconductor output-light waveguide for leading light coupled in said semiconductor optical coupling element to an emission end of said semiconductor output-light waveguide; wherein said semiconductor optical modulator is provided with a means for producing a phase difference of 180° between said two lights input to said semiconductor optical coupling element when equal voltages are applied to said first and second electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 1, wherein: said 180° phase difference producing means is composed of said first and second semiconductor optical waveguides with different lengths and/or different sectional structures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 2, further comprises: a compensating element for slightly adjusting said phase difference between said two lights to be 180°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 3, wherein: said compensating element is a third electrode provided on said first or second optical waveguide to give an optical phase variation when a voltage is applied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 3, wherein: said compensating element is a thermal controller which controls to differentiate temperatures of said first and second optical waveguides to give different refractive indexes therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 1, wherein: said 180° phase difference producing means is a third electrode which is provided on said first or second optical waveguide, said third electrode giving an optical phase shift of 180° when a voltage is applied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 1, wherein: said 180° phase difference producing means is a thermal controller which is provided near at least one of said first and second optical waveguides and controls to differentiate temperatures of said first and second optical waveguides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 1, wherein: said 180° phase difference producing means is an optical crystal which is provided on said first or second optical waveguide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A semiconductor optical modulator, according to claim 1, wherein: said 180° phase difference producing means is composed of said first or second optical waveguide into which a dopant is doped into to partially increase the refractive index of said first or second optical waveguide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-28 | 2001-01-27 | 2001-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-28 | 2005-01-27 | 2005-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-28 | 2009-01-27 | 2009-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |