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:
Nov. 04, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2007
Robert Keith Montgomery, Easton, PA (US);
Margaret Ghiron, Allentown, PA (US);
Prakash Gothoskar, Allentown, PA (US);
Paulius Mindaugas Mosinskis, Richlandtown, PA (US);
Vipulkumar Patel, Breinigsville, PA (US);
Kalpendu Shastri, Orefield, PA (US);
Mark Webster, Bethlehem, PA (US);
Robert Keith Montgomery, Easton, PA (US);
Margaret Ghiron, Allentown, PA (US);
Prakash Gothoskar, Allentown, PA (US);
Paulius Mindaugas Mosinskis, Richlandtown, PA (US);
Vipulkumar Patel, Breinigsville, PA (US);
Kalpendu Shastri, Orefield, PA (US);
Mark Webster, Bethlehem, PA (US);
SiOptical, Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
A silicon-based optical modulator structure includes one or more separate localized heating elements for changing the refractive index of an associated portion of the structure and thereby providing corrective adjustments to address unwanted variations in device performance. Heating is provided by thermo-optic devices such as, for example, silicon-based resistors, silicide resistors, forward-biased PN junctions, and the like, where any of these structures may easily be incorporated with a silicon-based optical modulator. The application of a DC voltage to any of these structures will generate heat, which then transfers into the waveguiding area. The increase in local temperature of the waveguiding area will, in turn, increase the refractive index of the waveguiding in the area. Control of the applied DC voltage results in controlling the refractive index.