Optical transmitter and optical transmission apparatus

摘要

An optical transmitter is disclosed. An optical modulator outputs an optical signal by modulating light being input, and has an optical absorption characteristic which changes a degree of optical absorption depending on a bias voltage being applied and includes a first characteristic region and a second characteristic region in which the degree of the optical absorption is greater than the first characteristic region. An power source applies an electric field generated by applying a predetermined shutdown bias voltage corresponding to the second characteristic region to electrodes provided in two interference optical guides formed in the optical modulator, when an output of the optical signal from the optical modulator is shut down to be less than or equal to a desired amount.

主权项

1. An optical transmitter, comprising:
an optical modulator configured to output an optical signal by modulating light being input, and to include two interference optical guides each having an optical absorption characteristic which changes a degree of optical absorption depending on a bias voltage being applied and includes a first characteristic region and a second characteristic region in which the degree of the optical absorption is greater than the first characteristic region; and a power source configured to apply an electric field generated by applying a predetermined shutdown bias voltage, which causes the degree of the optical absorption to be greater, corresponding to the second characteristic region to electrodes provided in the two interference optical guides formed in the optical modulator, when an output of the optical signal from the optical modulator is shut down to be less than or equal to a desired amount.