Acacia Communications, Inc.

Ricardo Aroca

Christopher Richard Doerr

Long L Chen

A differentially-balanced photodetector arrangement is described for use in a coherent optical receiver. The differentially-balanced photodetector arrangement may include balanced differential photodetector pairs. The balanced differential photodetector pairs may generate a differential electrical signal. The differential electrical signal may include the data received by the coherent optical receiver.

Differentially-balanced photodetector configuration for coherent receiver

Aspects of the present disclosure provide an optical modulator with linearly distributed active circuitry coupled to a signal electrode to compensate for loss or attenuation of a high frequency modulation signal in the signal electrode. In one embodiment, negative resistance cells are attached to the signal electrode at various points, and have tunable negative resistances to compensate for the loss. In another embodiment, a segmented bias electrode is provided along the length of the optical waveguide in the optical modulator. Each segmented bias electrode may have a pre-determined bias voltage that can reduce impedance mismatches along the length of the signal electrode to reduce echoes and ripples in the modulation signal.

Methods for adjusting a modulator for optimal power

An optical Mach Zehnder modulator is described. The optical Mach Zehnder modulator may comprise a plurality of segments separated by curved waveguides. For example, an optical Mach Zehnder modulator may comprise a first waveguide arm having a first pn-junction formed therein, a second waveguide arm having a second pn-junction formed therein, a third waveguide arm coupled to the first waveguide arm via a first curved waveguide and a fourth waveguide arm coupled to the second waveguide arm via a second curved waveguide. The segments may have the same polarities. Alternatively, the segments may have opposite polarities. The different segments may be driven using different RF signals. The RF signals may be delayed from one another.

Silicon modulators and related apparatus and methods

A segmented traveling wave Mach Zehnder optical modulator is described. The segmented traveling wave Mach Zehnder optical modulator may comprise two or more radio frequency (RF) segments, and each RF segment may be configured to support a modulating RF signal. The modulating RF signals may be configured to modulate an optical signal propagating along an optical path of the segmented traveling wave Mach Zehnder optical modulator. The RF modulating signal in the second RF segment may be generated by amplifying the modulating RF signal of the first RF segment, using an RF amplifier. The RF amplifier may be configured to amplify a band-pass spectral portion of the modulating RF signal.

Growing community of inventors

New York, NY, United States of America

Ricardo Aroca