OPTICAL MODULATOR AND OPTICAL MODULATOR DRIVER DEVICES AND METHODS UTILIZING INDEPENDENT ARM BIAS TO MITIGATE FABRICATION ERRORS

摘要

An optical modulator device and method, including and utilizing: a first optical waveguide arm including one or more optical phase shifters, e.g., pn junctions, and configured to receive a first bias voltage V_bias1; and a second optical waveguide arm including one or more optical phase shifters, e.g., pn junctions, and configured to receive a second bias voltage V_bias2; wherein the first bias voltage V_bias1 and the second bias voltage V_bias2 are dissimilar, such that the first optical waveguide arm and the second optical waveguide arm exhibit a same phase modulation. V_bias1 and V_bias2 are selected such that the corresponding slopes V_π of the associated phase shift versus applied bias voltage curves are equal. The optical modulator device further includes a driver coupled to the first optical waveguide arm and the second optical waveguide arm and including a current offset control circuit operable for providing V_bias1 and V_bias2.