ELECTROOPTIC MODULATOR EMPLOYING DC COUPLED ELECTRODES

摘要

Optical devices (10, 40) are provided for optical signal modulation of light propagating in a waveguide core surrounded by polymeric cladding regions which include chromophores, under the control of an electrical signal propagating along a traveling wave electrode structure. The microwave electrode structure comprises a coplanar stripline including a control signal electrode (75) interposed between a pair of ground plane electrodes (72, 74). Each of the microwave ground plane electrodes is connected to a positive or negative DC bios source (+Vblas, -Vbias) and is coupled from the microwave signal input (44) by means of DC blocking capacitors (76). The ground electrode portions (72', 74') isolated from the signal input and output can be used to align the chromophores by applying a bias voltage at a temperature near the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The present invention also contemplates provision of a coplanar stripline as described and claimed herein.