Optical amplitude modulator

The present invention relates to fibre optic data links and in particular to the merging of multiple separate input data streams into a single data stream for transmission. More particularly, the present invention relates to the modulation in the optical domain of a signal for transmission. An optical amplitude modulator for modulating signals for transmission by a fibre optic link. The modulator comprises of a plurality of optical transmitters, whereby each transmitter is driven by an electronic circuit. Generally, each optical transmitter provides a light output, and the light outputs of the plurality of optical transmitters are combined optically for transmission as an optical output signal. Additionally, each of the plurality of optical transmitters has an associated optical filter, whereby each filter has a different level of opaqueness. Each filter, filters light output from the associated optical transmitter.