WO2024060787A1 - 光调制器和调制方法 - Google Patents

光调制器和调制方法 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024060787A1
WO2024060787A1 PCT/CN2023/105379 CN2023105379W WO2024060787A1 WO 2024060787 A1 WO2024060787 A1 WO 2024060787A1 CN 2023105379 W CN2023105379 W CN 2023105379W WO 2024060787 A1 WO2024060787 A1 WO 2024060787A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
optical
waveguide
signal
electrode
signal electrode
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CN2023/105379
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
董振
简健
张培杰
刘辰钧
桂成程
Original Assignee
华为技术有限公司
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 华为技术有限公司 filed Critical 华为技术有限公司
Priority to EP23867082.2A priority Critical patent/EP4575629A1/en
Publication of WO2024060787A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024060787A1/zh
Priority to US19/086,495 priority patent/US20250216740A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/21—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference
    • G02F1/225—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference in an optical waveguide structure
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/21—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference
    • G02F1/225—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference in an optical waveguide structure
    • G02F1/2255—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference in an optical waveguide structure controlled by a high-frequency electromagnetic component in an electric waveguide structure
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/21—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  by interference
    • G02F1/212—Mach-Zehnder type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2201/00—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00
    • G02F2201/06—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00 integrated waveguide
    • G02F2201/063—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00 integrated waveguide ridge; rib; strip loaded
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2201/00—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00
    • G02F2201/12—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00 electrode

Definitions

  • the present application relates to the field of optical communications, and in particular to optical modulators and modulation methods.
  • optical sending equipment can convert electrical signals into optical signals through optical modulators.
  • the Mach-Zehnder modulator is the most commonly used optical modulator structure.
  • the Mach-Zehnder modulator includes a beam splitter, a first ground electrode, a first waveguide, a signal electrode, a second waveguide, a second ground electrode and a beam combiner.
  • the output end of the beam splitter is connected to the input ends of the first waveguide and the second waveguide.
  • the input end of the beam combiner is connected to the output ends of the first waveguide and the second waveguide.
  • the signal electrode is located between the first waveguide and the second waveguide.
  • the first waveguide is located between the first ground electrode and the signal electrode.
  • the second waveguide is located between the second ground electrode and the signal electrode.
  • the signal electrode is used to connect one end of the differential electrical signal.
  • the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode are used to connect the ground wire. In practical applications, the modulation efficiency of optical modulators is low.
  • This application provides an optical modulator and a modulation method. By adding signal electrodes, the modulation voltage amplitude can be increased, thereby improving the modulation efficiency.
  • a first aspect of this application provides an optical modulator.
  • the optical modulator includes a beam splitter, a first ground electrode, a first waveguide, a first signal electrode, a second waveguide, a second signal electrode, and a beam combiner.
  • the output end of the beam splitter is connected to the input ends of the first waveguide and the second waveguide.
  • the beam splitter is used to split the received optical carrier into two optical carriers.
  • the two optical carriers correspond to the two waveguides one-to-one.
  • the first signal electrode is located between the first waveguide and the second waveguide.
  • the first waveguide is located between the first ground electrode and the first signal electrode.
  • the optical modulator modulates one of the two optical carriers through the first signal electrode and the first ground electrode to obtain a first optical phase modulation signal.
  • the second waveguide is located between the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode.
  • the optical modulator modulates the other of the two optical carriers through the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode to obtain a second optical phase modulation signal.
  • the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode are respectively connected to an output port of the differential electrical signal.
  • the first ground electrode is connected to ground or DC voltage.
  • the input end of the beam combiner is connected to the output ends of the first waveguide and the second waveguide. The beam combiner is used to interfere with the first optical phase modulation signal and the second optical phase modulation signal, and output a modulated optical signal.
  • the first ground electrode and the second signal electrode are symmetrically distributed with the first signal electrode as the center.
  • the optical losses of the two optical carriers may be different, resulting in poor quality of the modulated optical signal. Therefore, the present application can improve the quality of modulation.
  • the light modulator further includes a second ground electrode.
  • the second signal electrode is located on the second between the ground electrode and the second waveguide.
  • the second ground electrode and the first ground electrode are symmetrically distributed around the second waveguide.
  • the attenuation of high-frequency electrical signals on the electrodes can be reduced. Therefore, this application can reduce the loss of electrical signals, thereby increasing the modulation bandwidth.
  • the light modulator further includes a first dummy waveguide.
  • the first dummy waveguide is located between the second ground electrode and the second signal electrode.
  • the first waveguide and the first false waveguide are symmetrically distributed with the second waveguide as the center.
  • the attenuation of high-frequency electrical signals on the electrodes can be reduced. Therefore, this application can reduce the loss of electrical signals, thereby increasing the modulation bandwidth.
  • the light modulator further includes an electrical connection structure.
  • the electrical connection structure is used to connect the second ground electrode and the first ground electrode. By connecting the second ground electrode and the first ground electrode, the introduced noise can be reduced. Therefore, this application can increase the modulation bandwidth.
  • the electrical connection structure is a plurality of connection lines.
  • the distance between any two adjacent connecting lines among the plurality of connecting lines is between 100 and 500 microns.
  • the light modulator further includes a first resistor and a second resistor.
  • the first resistor is connected to the output end of the first signal electrode.
  • the second resistor is connected to the output end of the second signal electrode.
  • the light modulator further includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor.
  • the first capacitor is connected to the input end of the first signal electrode.
  • the second capacitor is connected to the input terminal of the second signal electrode.
  • the first resistor and the second resistor are connected to the DC bias voltage.
  • the first resistor and the second resistor are connected to the ground wire.
  • a DC bias voltage is connected to the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode.
  • the light modulator has a U-shaped structure.
  • the U-shaped structure includes a first straight portion, a curved portion and a second straight portion connected in sequence.
  • the first waveguide is located between the first ground electrode and the first signal electrode
  • the second waveguide is located between the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode.
  • the first waveguide is located between the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode
  • the second waveguide is located between the second signal electrode and the second ground electrode.
  • the first waveguide and the second waveguide do not need to cross at the curved portion. Crossed waveguides will cause the two optical phase modulation signals to interact with each other and reduce the modulation quality. Therefore, the present application can improve the modulation quality.
  • the light modulator further includes a second dummy waveguide.
  • the second dummy waveguide is located between the first ground electrode and the first signal electrode.
  • a second aspect of this application provides an optical module.
  • the optical module includes a laser and the aforementioned first aspect or any one of the first aspects.
  • the laser is used to output an optical carrier wave to the optical modulator.
  • the optical modulator is used to modulate the optical carrier and output the modulated optical signal.
  • the third aspect of this application provides an optical sending device.
  • the optical sending device includes a processor and the optical module described in the second aspect.
  • the processor is used to output differential electrical signals to the optical module.
  • the optical module is used to modulate the optical carrier according to the differential electrical signal and output the modulated optical signal.
  • a fourth aspect of this application provides an optical communication system.
  • the optical communication system includes an optical receiving device and the optical transmitting device described in the third aspect.
  • the optical sending device is used to send modulated optical signals to the optical receiving device.
  • the optical receiving device is used to demodulate the modulated optical signal to obtain an electrical signal.
  • the fifth aspect of this application provides a modulation method.
  • the modulation method can be applied to optical transmitting equipment.
  • the modulation method includes the following steps: the optical sending device modulates the phase of the first optical carrier through an electrical signal in the differential electrical signal to obtain a first optical phase modulation signal.
  • the optical sending device modulates the phase of the second optical carrier using the two electrical signals in the differential electrical signal to obtain a second optical phase modulation signal.
  • the optical sending device interferes with the first optical phase modulation signal and the second optical phase modulation signal to obtain a modulated optical signal.
  • Figure 1 is a first structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 2 is a second structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 3a is a third structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 3b is a first cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical modulator provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 3c is a second cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical modulator provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG3 d is a third cross-sectional schematic diagram of the light modulator provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG3e is a fourth cross-sectional schematic diagram of the light modulator provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG4 is a fourth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 5 is a fifth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 6 is a sixth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 7 is a seventh structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 8 is an eighth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an optical transmission device provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the modulation method provided in an embodiment of the present application.
  • This application provides an optical modulator and a modulation method. By adding signal electrodes, the modulation voltage amplitude can be increased, thereby improving the modulation efficiency.
  • the terms "first”, “second”, etc. used in this application are only used for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying order.
  • reference numbers and/or letters are repeated in the various drawings of this application for the sake of conciseness and clarity. Repetition does not imply a strictly limiting relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations.
  • optical modulator provided by this application is used in the field of optical communications.
  • optical sending equipment can convert electrical signals into optical signals through optical modulators.
  • the optical modulator modulates the optical carrier through one electrical signal of the differential electrical signal to obtain a modulated optical signal.
  • the other end of the differential electrical signal is cut off, resulting in a waste of the driving signal, resulting in low modulation efficiency of the optical modulator.
  • FIG. 1 is a first structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the optical modulator 100 includes a beam splitter 101 , a first waveguide 102 , a second waveguide 103 , a beam combiner 104 , a first ground electrode 105 , a first signal electrode 106 and a second signal electrode 107 .
  • the output end of the beam splitter 101 is connected to the input ends of the first waveguide 102 and the second waveguide 103 .
  • the beam splitter 101 is used to divide the received optical carrier into two optical carriers.
  • the two optical carriers correspond to the two waveguides one-to-one.
  • the two waveguides include a first waveguide 102 and a second waveguide 103 .
  • the first waveguide 102 may also be called an upper waveguide.
  • the second waveguide 103 may also be called a lower waveguide.
  • the first signal electrode 106 is located between the first waveguide 102 and the second waveguide 103 .
  • the first waveguide 102 is located between the first ground electrode 105 and the first signal electrode 106 .
  • the optical modulator 100 modulates one of the two optical carriers through the first ground electrode 105 and the first signal electrode 106 to obtain a first optical phase modulation signal.
  • the second waveguide 103 is located between the first signal electrode 106 and the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the optical modulator 100 modulates the other of the two optical carriers through the first signal electrode 106 and the second signal electrode 107 to obtain a second optical phase modulation signal.
  • the first signal electrode 106 and the second signal electrode 107 are respectively connected to an output port of a differential electrical signal.
  • the first ground electrode 105 is connected to ground or DC voltage.
  • the input end of the beam combiner 104 is connected to the output ends of the first waveguide 102 and the second waveguide 103 .
  • the beam combiner 104 is used to interfere with the first optical phase modulation signal and the second optical phase modulation signal, and output a modulated optical signal.
  • the output amplitude of the differential electrical signal as 2A, that is, the amplitude of the single-ended electrical signal is A.
  • the driving voltage of the first waveguide 102 is A.
  • the driving voltage of the second waveguide 103 is 2A.
  • the overall driving voltage of the optical modulator 100 is 3A. Therefore, by adding signal electrodes, the voltage amplitude of modulation can be increased, thereby improving modulation efficiency.
  • the distance between the first ground electrode 105 and the first signal electrode 106 is defined as d1.
  • the distance between the first signal electrode 106 and the second signal electrode 107 is defined as d2.
  • d1 and d2 will affect the optical loss of the two optical carriers. When the optical losses of the two optical carriers are different, the quality of the modulated optical signal will be affected.
  • the first ground electrode 105 and the second signal electrode 107 may be symmetrically distributed with the first signal electrode 106 as the center. Among them, symmetrical distribution means that the difference between d1 and d2 is less than 5 microns.
  • a and B are described as being symmetrically distributed with C as the center, the difference between the distance between A and C and the distance between B and C is less than 5 microns.
  • first ground electrode 105 and the first signal electrode 106 may not be completely parallel.
  • the distance between the first ground electrode 105 and the first signal electrode 106 may be different at different locations.
  • d1 refers to the average distance between the first ground electrode 105 and the first signal electrode 106 .
  • d2 refers to the average distance between the first signal electrode 106 and the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the light modulator 100 in the embodiment of the present application may further include a second ground electrode.
  • Figure 2 is a second structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 2 , based on FIG. 1 , the light modulator 100 further includes a second ground electrode 201 . The second signal electrode 107 is located between the second ground electrode 201 and the second waveguide 103 . The second ground electrode 201 is connected to a ground wire or a DC voltage.
  • the structure of the optical modulator 100 can be made more symmetrical, thereby reducing the loss of electrical signals. It should be understood that for the sake of simplicity of the drawing, some of the existing reference numerals in Figure 1 are omitted in Figure 2 . Similarly, in subsequent examples, the referenced figures may omit some of the existing reference numerals in the cited figures.
  • the optical modulator 100 in the embodiment of the present application may further include a first pseudo waveguide.
  • Figure 3a is a third structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3a, based on Figure 2, the optical modulator 100 also includes a first dummy waveguide 301. The first dummy waveguide 301 is located between the second ground electrode 201 and the second signal electrode 107 . The first dummy waveguide 301 does not need to transmit optical carrier waves. By introducing the first dummy waveguide 301, the structure of the optical modulator 100 can be made more symmetrical, thereby reducing the loss of electrical signals.
  • the second ground electrode 201 and the first ground electrode 105 may be symmetrically distributed with the second waveguide 103 as the center, and/or the first waveguide 102 and the first pseudo waveguide 301 may be centered with the second waveguide 103 It is distributed centrally symmetrically.
  • the first waveguide 102 and the second waveguide 103 may be strip optical waveguides or ridge optical waveguides. These are described separately below.
  • Figure 3b is a first cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical modulator provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 3b is a cross-section along the dotted line 302 of Figure 3a.
  • the light modulator 100 includes 3 waveguides and 4 electrodes.
  • the 4 electrodes include the first ground electrode 105, the first signal electrode 106, the second signal electrode 107 and the second ground electrode 201.
  • the 3 waveguides include the first waveguide 102, the second waveguide 103 and the first dummy waveguide 301.
  • the waveguides are all strip optical waveguides.
  • the light modulator 100 can also be filled with silicon dioxide SiO 2 303 or other dielectric layer materials in the vacant places.
  • Figure 3c is a second cross-sectional schematic diagram of the optical modulator provided by the embodiment of the present application.
  • Figure 3c is a cross-section along the dotted line 302 of Figure 3a.
  • the light modulator 100 includes a waveguide 304 and four electrodes.
  • the four electrodes include a first ground electrode 105, a first signal electrode 106, a second signal electrode 107 and a second ground electrode 201.
  • Waveguide 304 is a ridge optical waveguide.
  • the waveguide 304 includes three raised waveguides.
  • the three raised waveguides include the first waveguide 102, the second waveguide 103 and the first dummy waveguide 301.
  • Figures 3b and 3c the waveguide and electrodes are in the same layer. In practical applications, waveguides and electrodes can be in different layers.
  • Figure 3d is a third schematic cross-sectional view of the optical modulator provided by the embodiment of the present application. On the basis of Figure 3b, by moving down three waveguides, the optical modulator 100 shown in Figure 3d can be obtained. At this time, the 3 waveguides and 4 electrodes are in different layers.
  • Figure 3e is a fourth schematic cross-sectional view of the optical modulator provided by the embodiment of the present application. On the basis of Figure 3c, by moving the waveguide 304 downward, the optical modulator 100 shown in Figure 3e can be obtained. At this time, the waveguide 304 and the four electrodes are in different layers. The three protruding waveguides on the waveguide 304 are also on different layers from the four electrodes.
  • the optical modulator 100 may further include an electrical connection structure.
  • the electrical connection structure is used to connect the second ground electrode 201 and the first ground electrode 105 .
  • Figure 4 is a fourth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 4, based on Figure 3a, the optical modulator 100 further includes an electrical connection structure 401.
  • the electrical connection structure 401 is a plurality of connection lines. Two ends of each of the plurality of connection lines are connected to the first ground electrode 105 and the second ground electrode 201 respectively. The distance between any two adjacent connecting lines among the plurality of connecting lines is between 100 and 500 microns.
  • the input end of the first signal electrode 106 is used to connect an output port of a differential electrical signal.
  • the input end of the second signal electrode 107 is used to connect to another output port of the differential electrical signal.
  • the electrical signal may be reflected from the output end of the signal electrode back to the signal electrode, thereby affecting the high-speed modulation performance of the optical modulator 100 .
  • the optical modulator 100 may further include a first resistor and a second resistor.
  • Figure 5 is a fifth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the optical modulator 100 also It includes a first resistor 501 and a second resistor 502.
  • the first resistor 501 is connected to the output end of the first signal electrode 106 .
  • the second resistor 502 is connected to the output end of the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the first resistor 501 and the second resistor 502 may also be called cut-off resistors or termination resistors (TR).
  • TR termination resistors
  • one end of the first resistor 501 is connected to the output end of the first signal electrode 106 .
  • One end of the second resistor 502 is connected to the output end of the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the other ends of the first resistor 501 and/or the second resistor 502 may be connected to different locations, which will be described respectively below.
  • the other ends of the first resistor 501 and the second resistor 502 are respectively grounded, or the other ends of the first resistor 501 and the second resistor 502 are connected in parallel and then grounded.
  • the other end of the first resistor 501 is connected to the other end of the second resistor 502 .
  • the other end of the first resistor 501 is connected to the first ground electrode 105 .
  • the other end of the second resistor 502 is connected to the second ground electrode 201 .
  • the optical modulator 100 can also be connected to a DC bias voltage. By adjusting the DC bias voltage, the modulation operating point of the optical modulator 100 can be adjusted. Two possible implementation methods are described below.
  • Figure 6 is a sixth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the optical modulator 100 further includes a first capacitor 601 and a second capacitor 602 .
  • One end of the first capacitor 601 is connected to one end of the differential electrical signal.
  • the other end of the first capacitor 601 is connected to the input end of the first signal electrode 106 .
  • One end of the second capacitor 602 is connected to the other end of the differential electrical signal.
  • the other end of the second capacitor 602 is connected to the input end of the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the output end of the first signal electrode 106 is connected to the first resistor 501 .
  • the output end of the second signal electrode 107 is connected to the second resistor 502 .
  • the first resistor 501 and the second resistor 502 are connected to the DC bias voltage.
  • the first capacitor 601 and the second capacitor 602 are used to isolate the DC bias voltage.
  • Figure 7 is a seventh structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the first ground electrode 105 and the second ground electrode 201 are connected with a DC bias voltage.
  • One end of the first resistor 501 is connected to the output end of the first signal electrode 106 .
  • the other end of the first resistor 501 is connected to the ground wire.
  • One end of the second resistor 502 is connected to the output end of the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the other end of the first resistor 501 is connected to the ground wire.
  • FIG. 8 is an eighth structural schematic diagram of an optical modulator provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the optical modulator 100 has a U-shaped structure.
  • the U-shaped structure includes a straight part and a curved part.
  • the curved portion refers to the portion of the light modulator 100 to the right of the dotted line 801.
  • the straight line part refers to the part of the light modulator 100 to the left of the dotted line 801.
  • the straight line portion includes a first straight line portion and a second straight line portion.
  • the first straight line portion refers to the portion of the straight line portion above the dotted line 802.
  • the second straight line portion refers to the straight line portion downward from the dotted line 802 .
  • the three parts of the optical modulator 100 are described respectively below.
  • the light modulator 100 includes 3 waveguides and 4 electrodes.
  • the four electrodes include the first ground electrode 105, the first signal electrode 106, the second signal electrode 107 and the second ground electrode 201 in the direction from top to bottom.
  • the three waveguides include the first ground electrode 105 in the direction from top to bottom.
  • the first waveguide 102 is between the first ground electrode 105 and the first signal electrode 106 .
  • the second waveguide 103 is between the first signal electrode 106 and the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the first dummy waveguide 301 is between the second signal electrode 107 and the second ground electrode 201 .
  • the light modulator 100 includes 2 waveguides and 4 electrodes.
  • the four electrodes include the second ground electrode 201, the second signal electrode 107, the first signal electrode 106 and the first ground electrode 105 from the inside to the outside along the center 803.
  • the waveguides include the second waveguide 103 and the first waveguide 102 in order from the inside to the outside along the center 803. To avoid waveguides and electrodes crossing, the waveguides and electrodes can be in different layers.
  • the light modulator 100 includes 3 waveguides and 4 electrodes.
  • the four electrodes are the second ground electrode 201, the second signal electrode 107, the first signal electrode 106 and the first ground electrode 105 in the direction from top to bottom.
  • the three waveguides are the second ground electrode in the direction from top to bottom.
  • the second waveguide 103 is between the second ground electrode 201 and the second signal electrode 107 .
  • the first waveguide 102 is between the second signal electrode 107 and the first signal electrode 106 .
  • the second dummy waveguide 804 is between the first signal electrode 106 and the first ground electrode 105 .
  • the second dummy waveguide 804 does not need to transmit an optical carrier.
  • the output terminals of the first signal electrode 106, the second signal electrode 107, the first ground electrode 105, and the second ground electrode 201 reference may be made to the description in any of FIGS. 4 to 7.
  • the output end of the first signal electrode 106 is connected to a first resistor.
  • the output end of the second signal electrode 107 is connected to the second resistor.
  • intersecting waveguides will cause the two optical phase modulation signals to affect each other, thereby reducing the modulation quality.
  • the first waveguide 102 and the second waveguide 103 of the optical modulator 100 may not need to cross each other. Therefore, the embodiments of the present application can improve the modulation quality.
  • the second dummy waveguide 804 the symmetry of the second straight line portion can be improved, thereby reducing the loss of the electrical signal.
  • FIGS. 1 to 8 are just multiple examples of the optical modulator 100 provided by embodiments of the present application. In practical applications, those skilled in the art can make adaptive modifications to the structure of the optical modulator 100 according to requirements.
  • the light modulator 100 may not include the second ground electrode 201 and the first dummy waveguide 301 .
  • the optical modulator 100 also includes an electrical connection structure. The electrical connection structure is used to connect the first ground electrode 105 and the second ground electrode 201 .
  • the optical modulator 100 in FIG. 8 does not include the first ground electrode 105 and the second dummy waveguide 804 in the second straight portion.
  • optical modulator provided by the embodiment of the present application is described above.
  • optical module optical sending device, and optical communication system provided by the embodiments of the present application.
  • Figure 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical module provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the optical module 900 includes a laser 901 and an optical modulator 100 .
  • the laser 901 is used to output an optical carrier wave to the optical modulator 100 .
  • the optical modulator 100 is used to modulate an optical carrier wave and output a modulated optical signal.
  • light modulator 100 includes beam splitter 101 .
  • the optical modulator 100 splits the optical carrier into two optical carriers through the beam splitter 101 .
  • the optical modulator 100 modulates the phase of the first optical carrier using one of the differential electrical signals to obtain a first optical phase modulation signal.
  • the optical modulator 100 modulates the phase of the second optical carrier using the two electrical signals in the differential electrical signal to obtain a second optical phase modulation signal.
  • the optical modulator 100 interferes with the first optical phase modulation signal and the second optical phase modulation signal through the beam combiner 104 to obtain a modulated optical signal.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical sending device provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the optical sending device 1000 includes a processor 1001 and an optical module 900.
  • the processor 1001 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of CPU and NP.
  • the processor 1001 may also be a graphics processor (graphic processing unit, GPU).
  • the processor 1001 may further include a hardware chip or other general-purpose processor.
  • the above-mentioned hardware chip can be an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) or a combination thereof.
  • the processor 1001 is used to output differential electrical signals to the optical module 900 .
  • the optical module 900 is used to modulate the optical carrier according to the differential electrical signal and output the modulated optical signal.
  • FIG. 9 For description of the optical module 900, reference may be made to the description of FIG. 9 .
  • the optical transmitting device 1000 may also include a memory.
  • the memory may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory.
  • non-volatile memory can be read-only memory Memory (read-only memory, ROM), programmable read-only memory (programmable ROM, PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (erasable PROM, EPROM), or flash memory, etc.
  • Volatile memory may be random access memory (RAM).
  • the memory is connected to the processor 1001. Data may be stored in the memory.
  • the processor 1001 can be used to obtain data from the memory and obtain differential electrical signals based on the data.
  • the optical sending device 1000 may also include a photodetector, a transimpedance amplifier or a driver (Driver, DRV), etc.
  • the photodetector is used to receive optical signals and convert the optical signals into electrical signals.
  • the transimpedance amplifier is used to convert the current signal output by the photodetector into a voltage signal and amplify the signal amplitude.
  • the driver is used to receive a differential electrical signal from the processor, amplify the signal amplitude of the differential electrical signal, and output the amplified differential electrical signal through two output ports.
  • the optical modulator is connected to the driver. Specifically, the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode in the light modulator are respectively connected to one of the two output ports.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an optical communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • an optical communication system 1100 includes an optical receiving device 1101 and an optical transmitting device 1000 .
  • the optical sending device 1000 is used to send the modulated optical signal to the optical receiving device 1101.
  • the optical receiving device 1101 is used to demodulate the modulated optical signal to obtain an electrical signal. It should be understood that the optical receiving device 1101 can also modulate the optical carrier according to the differential electrical signal to obtain a modulated optical signal. Therefore, regarding the description of the light receiving device 1101, reference may also be made to the description of the light transmitting device 1000.
  • FIG 12 is a schematic flowchart of a modulation method provided by an embodiment of the present application.
  • the modulation method can be applied to optical modulators, optical modules or optical transmitting equipment.
  • the following uses an optical modulator as an example to describe the modulation method.
  • the modulation method includes the following steps.
  • step 1201 the optical modulator modulates the phase of the first optical carrier using one of the differential electrical signals to obtain a first optical phase modulation signal.
  • the light modulator includes a first ground electrode and a first signal electrode.
  • a first waveguide is included between the first ground electrode and the first signal electrode.
  • the first waveguide is used to transmit the first optical carrier.
  • the first signal electrode is used to connect one end of the differential electrical signal.
  • the modulator modulates one of the two optical carriers through the first ground electrode and the first signal electrode to obtain a first optical phase modulation signal.
  • step 1202 the optical modulator modulates the phase of the second optical carrier using the two electrical signals in the differential electrical signal to obtain a second optical phase modulation signal.
  • the light modulator includes a first signal electrode and a second signal electrode.
  • the second signal electrode is used to connect the other end of the differential electrical signal.
  • a second waveguide is included between the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode. The second waveguide is used to transmit the second optical carrier.
  • the optical modulator modulates the other of the two optical carriers through the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode to obtain a second optical phase modulation signal.
  • step 1203 the optical modulator interferes with the first optical phase modulation signal and the second optical phase modulation signal to obtain a modulated optical signal.
  • the optical modulator includes a beam combiner.
  • the optical modulator interferes the first optical phase modulation signal and the second optical phase modulation signal through the beam combiner to obtain a modulated optical signal.

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Abstract

本申请提供了一种光调制器，应用于光通信领域。光调制器包括分束器、第一接地电极、第一波导、第一信号电极、第二波导、第二信号电极和合束器。分束器的输出端连接第一波导和第二波导的输入端。合束器的输入端连接第一波导和第二波导的输出端。第一信号电极位于第一波导和第二波导之间。第一波导位于第一接地电极和第一信号电极之间。第二波导位于第一信号电极和第二信号电极之间。通过增加信号电极，可以提高调制的电压幅度，从而提高调制效率。

Description

光调制器和调制方法
本申请要求于2022年9月22日提交中国国家知识产权局、申请号为202211170389.5、申请名称为“光调制器和调制方法”的中国专利申请的优先权，其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。
技术领域
本申请涉及光通信领域，尤其涉及光调制器和调制方法。
背景技术
在光通信领域中，光发送设备可以通过光调制器将电信号转化为光信号。例如，马赫-曾德调制器是最常用的光调制器结构。马赫-曾德调制器包括分束器、第一接地电极、第一波导、信号电极、第二波导、第二接地电极和合束器。分束器的输出端连接第一波导和第二波导的输入端。合束器的输入端连接第一波导和第二波导的输出端。信号电极位于第一波导和第二波导之间。第一波导位于第一接地电极和信号电极之间。第二波导位于第二接地电极和信号电极之间。信号电极用于连接差分电信号的一端。第一接地电极和第二接地电极用于连接地线。在实际应用中，光调制器的调制效率较低。
发明内容
本申请提供了一种光调制器和调制方法，通过增加信号电极，可以提高调制的电压幅度，从而提高调制效率。
本申请第一方面提供了一种光调制器。光调制器包括分束器、第一接地电极、第一波导、第一信号电极、第二波导、第二信号电极和合束器。分束器的输出端连接第一波导和第二波导的输入端。分束器用于将接收的光载波分为两路光载波。两路光载波和两个波导一一对应。第一信号电极位于第一波导和第二波导之间。第一波导位于第一接地电极和第一信号电极之间。光调制器通过第一信号电极和第一接地电极调制两路光载波中的一路光载波，得到第一光相位调制信号。第二波导位于第一信号电极和第二信号电极之间。光调制器通过第一信号电极和第二信号电极调制两路光载波中的另一路光载波，得到第二光相位调制信号。第一信号电极和第二信号电极分别连接差分电信号的一个输出端口。第一接地电极连接地线或直流电压。合束器的输入端连接第一波导和第二波导的输出端。合束器用于对第一光相位调制信号和第二光相位调制信号进行干涉，输出调制后的光信号。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，第一接地电极和第二信号电极以第一信号电极为中心对称分布。当第一接地电极和第二信号电极不对称分布时，两路光载波的光学损耗可能不同，从而导致调制后的光信号的质量较差。因此，本申请可以提高调制的质量。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，光调制器还包括第二接地电极。第二信号电极位于第二 接地电极和第二波导之间。通过引入第二接地电极，可以使得光调制器的结构较为对称，从而降低高频电信号在电极上的衰减。因此，本申请可以降低电信号的损耗，从而提高调制带宽。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，第二接地电极和第一接地电极以第二波导为中心对称分布。当第二接地电极和第一接地电极对称分布时，可以降低高频电信号在电极上的衰减。因此，本申请可以降低电信号的损耗，从而提高调制带宽。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，光调制器还包括第一假波导。第一假波导位于第二接地电极和第二信号电极之间。通过引入第二假波导，可以使得光调制器的结构较为对称，从而降低高频电信号在电极上的衰减。因此，本申请可以降低电信号的损耗，从而提高调制带宽。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，第一波导和第一假波导以第二波导为中心对称分布。当第一波导和第一假波导对称分布时，可以降低高频电信号在电极上的衰减。因此，本申请可以降低电信号的损耗，从而提高调制带宽。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，光调制器还包括电连接结构。电连接结构用于连接第二接地电极和第一接地电极。通过连接第二接地电极和第一接地电极，可以降低引入的噪声。因此，本申请可以提高调制带宽。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，电连接结构为多个连接线。多个连接线中任意两个相邻的连接线之间的距离在100至500微米之间。通过使用多个间隔分布的连接线，可以降低电极上的噪声，提高调制带宽。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，光调制器还包括第一电阻和第二电阻。第一电阻和第一信号电极的输出端相连。第二电阻和第二信号电极的输出端相连。通过增加第一电阻和第二电阻，可以降低电信号的反射，从而提高光调制器的高速调制性能。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，光调制器还包括第一电容和第二电容。第一电容和和第一信号电极的输入端相连。第二电容和和第二信号电极的输入端相连。第一电阻和第二电阻连接直流偏置电压。通过调整直流偏置电压的大小，可以调整光调制器的调制工作点。因此，本申请可以提高调制的灵活性。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，第一电阻和第二电阻连接地线。第一接地电极和第二接地电极的连接直流偏置电压。通过调整直流偏置电压的大小，可以调整光调制器的调制工作点。因此，本申请可以提高调制的灵活性。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，光调制器为U型结构。U型结构包括依次连接的第一直线部分、弯曲部分和第二直线部分。在第一直线部分，第一波导位于第一接地电极和第一信号电极之间，第二波导位于第一信号电极和第二信号电极之间。在第二直线部分，第一波导位于第一信号电极和第二信号电极之间，第二波导位于第二信号电极和第二接地电极之间。此时，第一波导和第二波导可以无需在弯曲部分交叉。交叉的波导会使得两路光相位调制信号相互影响，降低调制质量。因此，本申请可以提高调制质量。
在第一方面的一种可选方式中，光调制器还包括第二假波导。在第二直线部分，第二假波导位于第一接地电极和第一信号电极之间。通过引入第二假波导，可以使得光调制器在第二直线部分的结构更为对称，从而提高调制带宽。并且，第二假波导不会和第一波导、第二波导交叉，从而提高调制质量。
本申请第二方面提供了一种光模块。光模块包括激光器和前述第一方面或第一方面中任 意一种可选方式中所述的光调制器。激光器用于向光调制器输出光载波。光调制器用于调制光载波，输出调制后的光信号。
本申请第三方面提供了一种光发送设备。光发送设备包括处理器和前述第二方面中所述的光模块。处理器用于向光模块输出差分电信号。光模块用于根据差分电信号调制光载波，输出调制后的光信号。
本申请第四方面提供了一种光通信系统。光通信系统包括光接收设备和前述第三方面中所述的光发送设备。光发送设备用于向光接收设备发送调制后的光信号。光接收设备用于解调调制后的光信号，得到电信号。
本申请第五方面提供了一种调制方法。调制方法可以应用于光发送设备。调制方法包括以下步骤：光发送设备通过差分电信号中的一路电信号调制第一路光载波的相位，得到第一光相位调制信号。光发送设备通过差分电信号中的两路电信号调制第二路光载波的相位，得到第二光相位调制信号。光发送设备对第一光相位调制信号和第二光相位调制信号进行干涉，得到调制后的光信号。
附图说明
图1为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第一个结构示意图；
图2为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第二个结构示意图；
图3a为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第三个结构示意图；
图3b为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第一个截面示意图；
图3c为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第二个截面示意图；
图3d为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第三个截面示意图；
图3e为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第四个截面示意图；
图4为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第四个结构示意图；
图5为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第五个结构示意图；
图6为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第六个结构示意图；
图7为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第七个结构示意图；
图8为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第八个结构示意图；
图9为本申请实施例提供的光模块的结构示意图；
图10为本申请实施例提供的光发送设备的结构示意图；
图11为本申请实施例提供的光通信系统的结构示意图；
图12为本申请实施例提供的调制方法的流程示意图。
具体实施方式
本申请提供了一种光调制器和调制方法，通过增加信号电极，可以提高调制的电压幅度，从而提高调制效率。应理解，本申请中使用的“第一”、“第二”等仅用于区分描述的目的，而不能理解为指示或暗示相对重要性，也不能理解为指示或暗示顺序。另外，为了简明和清楚，本申请多个附图中重复参考编号和/或字母。重复并不表明各种实施例和/或配置之间存在严格的限定关系。
本申请提供的光调制器应用于光通信领域。在光通信领域中，光发送设备可以通过光调制器将电信号转化为光信号。具体地，光调制器通过差分电信号的一路电信号调制光载波，得到调制后的光信号。但是，差分电信号的另一端被截止，造成驱动信号的浪费，从而导致光调制器的调制效率较低。
为此，本申请提供了一种光调制器。图1为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第一个结构示意图。如图1所示，光调制器100包括分束器101、第一波导102、第二波导103、合束器104、第一接地电极105、第一信号电极106和第二信号电极107。分束器101的输出端连接第一波导102和第二波导103的输入端。分束器101用于将接收的光载波分为两路光载波。两路光载波和两个波导一一对应。两个波导包括第一波导102和第二波导103。第一波导102也可以称为上波导。第二波导103也可以称为下波导。第一信号电极106位于第一波导102和第二波导103之间。第一波导102位于第一接地电极105和第一信号电极106之间。光调制器100通过第一接地电极105和第一信号电极106调制两路光载波中的一路光载波，得到第一光相位调制信号。第二波导103位于第一信号电极106和第二信号电极107之间。光调制器100通过第一信号电极106和第二信号电极107调制两路光载波中的另一路光载波，得到第二光相位调制信号。第一信号电极106和第二信号电极107分别连接差分电信号的一个输出端口。第一接地电极105连接地线或直流电压。合束器104的输入端连接第一波导102和第二波导103的输出端。合束器104用于对第一光相位调制信号和第二光相位调制信号进行干涉，输出调制后的光信号。
定义差分电信号的输出幅度为2A，即单端电信号的幅度为A。此时，第一波导102的驱动电压为A。第二波导103的驱动电压为2A。光调制器100的整体驱动电压为3A。因此，通过增加信号电极，可以提高调制的电压幅度，从而提高调制效率。
定义第一接地电极105和第一信号电极106之间的距离为d1。定义第一信号电极106和第二信号电极107之间的距离为d2。在实际应用中，d1和d2会影响两路光载波的光学损耗。当两路光载波的光学损耗不同时，会影响调制后的光信号的质量。为了提高调制的质量，第一接地电极105和第二信号电极107可以以第一信号电极106为中心对称分布。其中，对称分布是指d1和d2的差值小于5微米。类似地，在后续的示例中，描述A和B以C为中心对称分布时，表征A和C之间的距离与B和C之间的距离的差值小于5微米。
应理解，第一接地电极105和第一信号电极106可能不完全平行。第一接地电极105在不同位置和第一信号电极106之间的距离可能不同。此时，d1是指第一接地电极105和第一信号电极106之间的平均距离。类似地，当第一接地电极105和第一信号电极106不完全平行时，d2是指第一信号电极106和第二信号电极107之间的平均距离。
在实际应用中，当光调制器100的结构不对称时，可能会增大高频信号在电极上的衰减，从而提高电信号的损耗。为此，本申请实施例中的光调制器100还可以包括第二接地电极。图2为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第二个结构示意图。如图2所示，在图1的基础上，光调制器100还包括第二接地电极201。第二信号电极107位于第二接地电极201和第二波导103之间。第二接地电极201连接地线或直流电压。通过引入第二接地电极201，可以使得光调制器100的结构较为对称，从而降低电信号的损耗。应理解，为了附图简洁，图2中省略了图1中已有的部分附图标记。类似的，在后续的示例中，引用的附图可能省略被引用的附图中已有的部分附图标记。
为了进一步提高光调制器100的对称性，本申请实施例中的光调制器100还可以包括第一假波导。图3a为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第三个结构示意图。如图3a所示，在图2的基础上，光调制器100还包括第一假波导301。第一假波导301位于第二接地电极201和第二信号电极107之间。第一假波导301无需传输光载波。通过引入第一假波导301，可以使得光调制器100的结构较为对称，从而降低电信号的损耗。
通过提高光调制器100的对称性，有利于降低电信号的损耗，提高调制带宽。为此，在实施例中，第二接地电极201和第一接地电极105可以以第二波导103为中心对称分布，和/或，第一波导102和第一假波导301可以以第二波导103为中心对称分布。
在本申请实施例中，第一波导102和第二波导103可以为条型光波导或脊型光波导。下面对此进行分别描述。
图3b为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第一个截面示意图。图3b为图3a沿虚线302进行截面得到的。如图3b所示，光调制器100包括3个波导和4个电极。4个电极包括第一接地电极105、第一信号电极106、第二信号电极107和第二接地电极201。3个波导包括第一波导102、第二波导103和第一假波导301。3个波导都为条型光波导。光调制器100还可以在空闲处填充二氧化硅SiO2 303或其他介质层材料。
图3c为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第二个截面示意图。图3c为图3a沿虚线302进行截面得到的。如图3c所示，光调制器100包括波导304和4个电极。4个电极包括第一接地电极105、第一信号电极106、第二信号电极107和第二接地电极201。波导304为脊型光波导。波导304的上包括3个凸起的波导。3个凸起的波导包括第一波导102、第二波导103和第一假波导301。
在图3b和图3c中，波导和电极处于同一层。在实际应用中，波导和电极可以处于不同层。图3d为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第三个截面示意图。在图3b的基础上，通过下移3个波导，可以得到图3d所示的光调制器100。此时，3个波导和4个电极处于不同层。图3e为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第四个截面示意图。在图3c的基础上，通过下移波导304，可以得到图3e所示的光调制器100。此时，波导304和4个电极处于不同层。波导304上3个凸起的波导也和4个电极处于不同层。
在实际应用中，第一接地电极105和第二接地电极201可能会引入噪声。噪声会影响调制的质量。为此，在本申请实施例中，光调制器100还可以包括电连接结构。电连接结构用于连接第二接地电极201和第一接地电极105。图4为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第四个结构示意图。如图4所示，在图3a的基础上，光调制器100还包括电连接结构401。电连接结构401为多个连接线。多个连接线中每个连接线的两端分别连接第一接地电极105和第二接地电极201。多个连接线中任意两个相邻的连接线之间的距离在100至500微米之间。通过连接第二接地电极201和第一接地电极105，可以降低引入的噪声。因此，本申请实施例可以提高调制带宽。
根据前述对图1的描述可知，第一信号电极106的输入端用于连接差分电信号的一个输出端口。第二信号电极107的输入端用于连接差分电信号的另一个输出端口。在实际应用中，电信号可能从信号电极的输出端反射回信号电极，从而影响光调制器100的高速调制性能。为此，在本申请实施例中，光调制器100还可以包括第一电阻和第二电阻。图5为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第五个结构示意图。如图5所示，在图3a的基础上，光调制器100还 包括第一电阻501和第二电阻502。第一电阻501和第一信号电极106的输出端相连。第二电阻502和第二信号电极107的输出端相连。第一电阻501和第二电阻502也可以称为截止电阻或终端电阻(termination resistor，TR)。通过增加第一电阻501和第二电阻502，可以降低电信号的反射，从而提高光调制器100的高速调制性能。
根据前述图5的描述可知，第一电阻501的一端连接第一信号电极106的输出端。第二电阻502的一端连接第二信号电极107的输出端。在实际应用中，第一电阻501和/或第二电阻502的另一端可以连接到不同的位置，下面对此进行分别描述。
在第一种示例中，第一电阻501和第二电阻502的另一端分别接地，或，第一电阻501的另一端和第二电阻502的另一端并联后接地。在第二种示例中，第一电阻501的另一端和第二电阻502的另一端相连。在第三种示例中，第一电阻501的另一端连接第一接地电极105。第二电阻502的另一端连接第二接地电极201。
在实际应用中，为了提高调制的灵活性，光调制器100还可以连接直流偏置电压。通过调整直流偏置电压的大小，可以调整光调制器100的调制工作点。下面对两种可能的实现方式分别进行描述。
图6为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第六个结构示意图。如图6所示，在图5的基础上，光调制器100还包括第一电容601和第二电容602。第一电容601的一端连接差分电信号的一端。第一电容601的另一端连接第一信号电极106的输入端。第二电容602的一端连接差分电信号的另一端。第二电容602的另一端连接第二信号电极107的输入端。第一信号电极106的输出端连接第一电阻501。第二信号电极107的输出端连接第二电阻502。第一电阻501和第二电阻502连接直流偏置电压。第一电容601和第二电容602用于隔离直流偏置电压。
图7为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第七个结构示意图。如图7所示，在图5的基础上，第一接地电极105和第二接地电极201的连接直流偏置电压。第一电阻501的一端连接第一信号电极106的输出端。第一电阻501的另一端连接地线。第二电阻502的一端连接第二信号电极107的输出端。第一电阻501的另一端连接地线。
在实际应用中，为了减小光调制器的长度，光调制器可以为U型结构。图8为本申请实施例提供的光调制器的第八个结构示意图。如图8所示，光调制器100为U型结构。U型结构包括直线部分和弯曲部分。弯曲部分是指光调制器100在虚线801往右的部分。直线部分是指光调制器100在虚线801往左的部分。直线部分包括第一直线部分和第二直线部分。第一直线部分是指直线部分在虚线802往上的部分。第二直线部分是指直线部分在虚线802往下的部分。下面对光调制器100的3个部分进行分别描述。
在第一直线部分中，光调制器100包括3个波导和4个电极。4个电极沿从上到下的方向依次包括第一接地电极105、第一信号电极106、第二信号电极107和第二接地电极201。3个波导沿从上到下的方向依次包括第一波导102、第二波导103和第一假波导301。第一波导102在第一接地电极105和第一信号电极106之间。第二波导103在第一信号电极106和第二信号电极107之间。第一假波导301在第二信号电极107和第二接地电极201之间。关于第一直线部分的描述，可以参考前述图3a的描述。
在弯曲部分中，光调制器100包括2个波导和4个电极。4个电极沿中心803由内向外依次包括第二接地电极201、第二信号电极107、第一信号电极106和第一接地电极105。2 个波导沿中心803由内向外依次包括第二波导103和第一波导102。为了避免波导和电极交叉，波导和电极可以处于不同的层。
在第二直线部分中，光调制器100包括3个波导和4个电极。4个电极沿从上到下的方向依次为第二接地电极201、第二信号电极107、第一信号电极106和第一接地电极105。3个波导沿从上到下的方向依次为第二波导103、第一波导102和第二假波导804。第二波导103在第二接地电极201和第二信号电极107之间。第一波导102在第二信号电极107和第一信号电极106之间。第二假波导804在第一信号电极106和第一接地电极105之间。第二假波导804无需传输光载波。关于第一信号电极106、第二信号电极107、第一接地电极105和第二接地电极201的输出端的描述，可以参考图4-图7中任一图中的描述。例如，第一信号电极106的输出端连接第一电阻。第二信号电极107的输出端连接第二电阻。
在实际应用中，相互交叉的波导会使得两路光相位调制信号相互影响，从而降低调制质量。在图8中，光调制器100的第一波导102和第二波导103可以无需相互交叉。因此，本申请实施例可以提高调制质量。并且，通过引入第二假波导804，可以提高第二直线部分的对称性，从而降低电信号的损耗。
应理解，图1-图8只是本申请实施例提供的光调制器100的多个示例。在实际应用中，本领域技术人员可以根据需求对光调制器100的结构进行适应性的修改。例如，图5和图6中，光调制器100可以不包括第二接地电极201和第一假波导301。又如，图7中，光调制器100还包括电连接结构。电连接结构用于连接第一接地电极105和第二接地电极201。再如，图8中的光调制器100在第二直线部分不包括第一接地电极105和第二假波导804。
前面对本申请实施例提供的光调制器进行描述。下面对本申请实施例提供的光模块、光发送设备和光通信系统进行描述。
图9为本申请实施例提供的光模块的结构示意图。如图9所示，光模块900包括激光器901和光调制器100。激光器901用于向光调制器100输出光载波。光调制器100用于调制光载波，输出调制后的光信号。关于光调制器100的描述，可以参考前述图1-图8中任一图中的描述。例如，光调制器100包括分束器101。光调制器100通过分束器101将光载波分为两束光载波。光调制器100通过差分电信号中的一路电信号调制第一路光载波的相位，得到第一光相位调制信号。光调制器100通过差分电信号中的两路电信号调制第二路光载波的相位，得到第二光相位调制信号。光调制器100通过合束器104对第一光相位调制信号和第二光相位调制信号进行干涉，得到调制后的光信号。
图10为本申请实施例提供的光发送设备的结构示意图。如图10所示，光发送设备1000包括处理器1001和光模块900。处理器1001可以是中央处理器(central processing unit，CPU)，网络处理器(network processor，NP)或者CPU和NP的组合。处理器1001也可以图像处理器(graphic processing unit，GPU)。处理器1001还可以进一步包括硬件芯片或其他通用处理器。上述硬件芯片可以是专用集成电路(application specific integrated circuit，ASIC)，可编程逻辑器件(programmable logic device，PLD)或其组合。处理器1001用于向光模块900输出差分电信号。光模块900用于根据差分电信号调制光载波，输出调制后的光信号。关于光模块900的描述，可以参考图9的描述。
在实际应用中，光发送设备1000还可以包括存储器。存储器可以是易失性存储器或非易失性存储器，或可包括易失性和非易失性存储器两者。其中，非易失性存储器可以是只读存 储器(read-only memory，ROM)、可编程只读存储器(programmable ROM，PROM)、可擦除可编程只读存储器(erasable PROM，EPROM)、或闪存等。易失性存储器可以是随机存取存储器(random access memory，RAM)。存储器和处理器1001相连。存储器中可以存储有数据。处理器1001可以用于从存储器获取数据，根据数据得到差分电信号。
在实际应用中，光发送设备1000还可以包括光探测器、跨阻放大器或驱动器(Driver，DRV)等。光探测器用于接收光信号，将光信号转换为电信号。跨阻放大器用于将光探测器输出的电流信号转换为电压信号并放大信号幅度。驱动器用于从处理器接收差分电信号，放大差分电信号的信号幅度，并通过两个输出端口输出放大后的差分电信号。光调制器和驱动器相连。具体地，光调制器中的第一信号电极和第二信号电极分别连接两个输出端口中的一个输出端口。
图11为本申请实施例提供的光通信系统的结构示意图。如图11所示，光通信系统1100包括光接收设备1101和光发送设备1000。光发送设备1000用于向光接收设备1101发送调制后的光信号。关于光发送设备1000的描述，可以参考图10的描述。光接收设备1101用于解调调制后的光信号，得到电信号。应理解，光接收设备1101也可以根据差分电信号调制光载波，得到调制后的光信号。因此，关于光接收设备1101的描述，也可以参考光发送设备1000的描述。
图12为本申请实施例提供的调制方法的流程示意图。调制方法可应用于光调制器、光模块或光发送设备。下面以光调制器为例，对调制方法进行描述。调制方法包括以下步骤。
在步骤1201中，光调制器通过差分电信号中的一路电信号调制第一路光载波的相位，得到第一光相位调制信号。
关于光调制器的描述，可以参考图1-图8中任一图中的描述。例如，光调制器包括第一接地电极和第一信号电极。第一接地电极和第一信号电极之间包括第一波导。第一波导用于传输第一路光载波。第一信号电极用于连接差分电信号的一端。调制器通过第一接地电极和第一信号电极调制两路光载波中的一路光载波，得到第一光相位调制信号。
在步骤1202中，光调制器通过差分电信号中的两路电信号调制第二路光载波的相位，得到第二光相位调制信号。
光调制器包括第一信号电极和第二信号电极。第二信号电极用于连接差分电信号的另一端。第一信号电极和第二信号电极之间包括第二波导。第二波导用于传输第二路光载波。光调制器通过第一信号电极和第二信号电极调制两路光载波中的另一路光载波，得到第二光相位调制信号。
在步骤1203中，光调制器对第一光相位调制信号和第二光相位调制信号进行干涉，得到调制后的光信号。
光调制器包括合束器。光调制器通过合束器对第一光相位调制信号和第二光相位调制信号进行干涉，得到调制后的光信号。
以上，仅为本申请的具体实施方式，但本申请的保护范围并不局限于此，任何熟悉本技术领域的技术人员在本申请揭露的技术范围内，可轻易想到变化或替换，都应涵盖在本申请的保护范围之内。

Claims (17)

  1. 一种光调制器，其特征在于，包括分束器、第一接地电极、第一波导、第一信号电极、第二波导、第二信号电极和合束器，其中：
    所述分束器的输出端连接所述第一波导和所述第二波导的输入端，所述合束器的输入端连接所述第一波导和所述第二波导的输出端；
    所述第一信号电极位于所述第一波导和所述第二波导之间；
    所述第一波导位于所述第一接地电极和所述第一信号电极之间；
    所述第二波导位于所述第一信号电极和所述第二信号电极之间。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述第一接地电极和所述第二信号电极以所述第一信号电极为中心对称分布。
  3. 根据权利要求1或2所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述光调制器还包括第二接地电极，所述第二信号电极位于所述第二接地电极和所述第二波导之间。
  4. 根据权利要求3所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述第二接地电极和所述第一接地电极以所述第二波导为中心对称分布。
  5. 根据权利要求3或4所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述光调制器还包括第一假波导，所述第一假波导位于所述第二接地电极和所述第二信号电极之间。
  6. 根据权利要求5所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述第一波导和所述第一假波导以所述第二波导为中心对称分布。
  7. 根据权利要求3至6中任意一项所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述光调制器还包括电连接结构，所述电连接结构用于连接所述第二接地电极和所述第一接地电极。
  8. 根据权利要求7所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述电连接结构为多个连接线，所述多个连接线中任意两个相邻的连接线之间的距离在100至500微米之间。
  9. 根据权利要求3至8中任意一项所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述光调制器还包括第一电阻和第二电阻，其中：
    所述第一电阻和所述第一信号电极的输出端相连；
    所述第二电阻和所述第二信号电极的输出端相连。
  10. 根据权利要求9所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述光调制器还包括第一电容和第二电容，其中：
    所述第一电容和和所述第一信号电极的输入端相连；
    所述第二电容和和所述第二信号电极的输入端相连；
    所述第一电阻和所述第二电阻连接直流偏置电压。
  11. 根据权利要求9所述的光调制器，其特征在于，
    所述第一电阻和所述第二电阻连接地线；
    所述第一接地电极和所述第二接地电极连接直流偏置电压。
  12. 根据权利要求3至11中任意一项所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述光调制器为U型结构，所述U型结构包括依次连接的第一直线部分、弯曲部分和第二直线部分；
    所述第一波导位于所述第一接地电极和所述第一信号电极之间包括：在所述第一直线部分，所述第一波导位于所述第一接地电极和所述第一信号电极之间；
    所述第二波导位于所述第一信号电极和所述第二信号电极之间包括：在所述第一直线部分，所述第二波导位于所述第一信号电极和所述第二信号电极之间；
    在所述第二直线部分，所述第一波导位于所述第一信号电极和所述第二信号电极之间，所述第二波导位于所述第二信号电极和所述第二接地电极之间。
  13. 根据权利要求12所述的光调制器，其特征在于，所述光调制器还包括第二假波导，其中：在所述第二直线部分，所述第二假波导位于所述第一接地电极和所述第一信号电极之间。
  14. 一种光模块，其特征在于，包括激光器和如权利要求1至13中任意一项所述光调制器，其中：
    所述激光器用于向所述光调制器输出光载波；
    所述光调制器用于调制所述光载波，输出调制后的光信号。
  15. 一种光发送设备，其特征在于，包括处理器和如权利要求14中所述的光模块，其中：
    所述处理器用于向所述光模块输出差分电信号；
    所述光模块用于根据所述差分电信号调制光载波，输出调制后的光信号。
  16. 一种光通信系统，其特征在于，包括光接收设备和如权利要求15中所述的光发送设备，其中：
    所述光发送设备用于向所述光接收设备发送调制后的光信号；
    所述光接收设备用于解调所述调制后的光信号，得到电信号。
  17. 一种调制方法，其特征在于，包括：
    通过差分电信号中的一路电信号调制第一路光载波的相位，得到第一光相位调制信号；
    通过所述差分电信号中的两路电信号调制第二路光载波的相位，得到第二光相位调制信号；
    对所述第一光相位调制信号和所述第二光相位调制信号进行干涉，得到调制后的光信号。
PCT/CN2023/105379 2022-09-22 2023-06-30 光调制器和调制方法 WO2024060787A1 (zh)

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