The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 1991
Filed:
Jul. 19, 1990
William B Bridges, Pasadena, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical waveguide (34) is formed in a substrate (32) made of an electro-optic material. A plurality of stripline electrodes (36) are formed on the substrate (32) in spaced relation along the optical waveguide (34). A stripline antenna (38) is connected to the upstream end of each electrode (36). An electromagnetic waveguide (40) directs an electromagnetic signal to the antennas (38), which couple the electromagnetic signal to the electrodes (36). The electromagnetic signal propagates along the electrodes (36) and electro-optically modulates an optical signal propagating parallel thereto through the optical waveguide (34). The electromagnetic waveguide (40) may direct the electromagnetic signal through the substrate (32) to the antennas (38) at an angle with the optical waveguide (34) selected to cause the electromagnetic signal to propagate through the substrate (32) in such a direction that the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave along the direction of the optical waveguide (34) is substantially equal to the phase velocity of the optical signal propagating through the optical waveguide (34). Alternatively, the substrate (32') may be dimensioned to constitute the electromagnetic waveguide such that the electromagnetic signal propagates therethrough parallel to the optical waveguide (34) at the same phase velocity as the optical signal. The electromagnetic waveguide may also be provided as a separate dielectric waveguide (62) which extends parallel to the optical waveguide (34). An optical waveguide (94) may be split into two branches (94c, 94d) to enable amplitude modulation of the optical signal.