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:
Jul. 11, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 11, 1997
Charles A Zmudzinski, South Union, KY (US);
Doyle T Nichols, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
An electroabsorptive modulator (EAM) for providing RF modulation of optical inputs signals. The EAM is formed as a semiconductor waveguide on a semiconductor substrate with an optical input port and an optical output port and electrical contacts for connection to the RF input. The configuration of the waveguide portion of the EAM is optimized to provide a modal match with the particular optical device to which the EAM is to be connected, for example, an optical fiber. By optimizing the modal match between the EAM and the optical device to which the EAM is connected, the optical insertion losses are minimized thereby improving the overall performance of the optical system. The device is formed from a plurality of quantum wells selected to compensate for the increased mode field dimensions.