| abstract |
An optical modulator having an electrode structure which is divided into a plurality of relatively small segments is described. The segments are connected via bond wires and transmission lines on an adjoining microwave circuit board. The optical modulator includes a pair of waveguides which are sloped so as to result in a non-parallel waveguide structure which reduces acoustic effects, e.g., ripple. By using a plurality of small segments to implement the electrode structure a high degree of sensitivity is achieved as compared to when a single lengthy electrode structure is used. The combination of the non-parallel waveguides and a segmented electrode provides for a relatively large flat frequency response, e.g., in excess of 1 GHz. The electrode structure is also designed to minimize the effective capacitance of the electrode structure to thereby broaden the bandwidth of the optic modulator of the present invention as compared to devices using solid electrodes. |