摘要:
A digital word generator uses a tap fiber optic delay line to generate a sequence of pulses. The pulses are weighted and combined to produce a digital word.
摘要:
A fiber optic recirculating memory is disclosed which utilizes dual couplers to form a splice-free recirculating memory device from a length of single mode optical fiber forming a loop which acts as a delay line and a second length of single mode optical fiber which provides an input end and an output end for the device. A single signal supplied as an input to the device will result in a series of output signals identical to the input signal, although at smaller, decreasing amplitudes; the invention prevents the first output signal from being substantially larger than the rest of the output signals, thus eliminating the need for protective circuitry on the output end or the rejection of the first output signal. In addition to being useful as a recirculating memory device for use in a system where data is generated at a rate faster than it can be accepted by a data processor, the invention may be used as a tap filter to pass a selected fundamental frequency and its harmonics, and to attenuate all other frequencies.
摘要:
A continuously variable optical delay line having a first substrate (66, 70) and a second substrate (95). The first substrate is composed of a quartz block (70) with a large radius of curvature along its length, supporting a silicon substrate (66) having a plurality of longitudinal, parallel v-grooves (68). A single length (121) of single mode optical fiber is wrapped around the first substrate (66, 70) in helical fashion with each loop being secured in one of the v-grooves (68). The portions of the fiber (121) in the v-grooves (68) are lapped and polished to create a flat coupling surface extending laterally and longitudinally across the first substrate (66, 70). The second substrate (91) is composed of a quartz block with a single v-groove holding a segment of single mode fiber (95). The radius of curvature of this v-groove is substantially smaller than that of the first substrate, such that the flat coupling surface of the second substrate (91) is shorter than that of the first substrate (66). The first and second substrates are placed together such that the fiber in the second substrate is coupled to the fiber in the first substrate. By moving (142) the second substrate longitudinally with respect to the first substrate, a continuously variable delay can be obtained. The continuously variable delay line can be combined with a separate discretely variable delay line to create a longer continuous variable delay. The continuous variable delay line can be formed with only one v-groove (68) in the first substrate (66).
摘要:
There is disclosed a high speed pulse train generator for generating a train of pulses having arbitrarily close spacing. The apparatus consists of a generator loop comprised of a fiber optic waveguide looped through a directional coupler with the output fiber serving as the input fiber for a similarly structured multiplexer loop. The lengths of the two loops are adjusted such that the time difference in the propagation times of light around the respective loops is small compared to the time of propagation around either loop. The times are adjusted to obtain any arbitrary spacing of the pulses in the output pulse train which is comprised of interleaved pulse trains resulting from each pulse input to the multiplexer loop. Also disclosed is a single loop embodiment for bidirectional data rate transformation and methods of using all the embodiments.
摘要:
A single mode optical fiber switch having a base (70) and a laterally slidable top (91). The base is composed of a quartz block (70) with a slight radius of curvature along its length supporting a silicon substrate (66) having a plurality of parallel v-grooves (68). The grooves are fitted with single mode optical fiber segments (64) and lapped to create a flat coupling surface (82) extending laterally across the base. The top (91) is composed of a quartz block with a single v-groove (93) holding a segment of single-mode fiber (95). This fiber (95) is lapped to create a flat coupling surface matable with the coupling surface on the base. The base (70) and top (91) are placed together such that the top fiber (95) may be selectively slid into and out of coupling alignment with any of the fibers (64) in the base (70) to form a discretely variable delay line. A single length of fiber (121) is wrapped around the base ( 70) in helical fashion with each loop being secured in one of the v-grooves (68). By coupling the top fiber (95) with different loops of the base fibers (121), different amounts of delay can be obtained. The delay line can be used to provide variable frequency response for notch and transversal filters.
摘要:
Method and apparatus for improving the sensitivity of Sagnac gyroscopes and other interferometers utilizing a fiber optic loop by minimizing the effects of backscattered radiation. In one disclosed embodiment, the amplitude of coincident backscattered radiation is significantly reduced by applying the light in the form of a pulse of short duration and gating the output so that only the scattered energy from a short length of the fiber contributes to the interfering wave. The interference is reduced even further by processing or constructing the loop to eliminate the scattering sources in the short segment which can give rise to coincident backscattered power.
摘要:
An array (48, 49, 50, 51) of fiber optic couplers coupling an input (45) and an output (46) waveguide. The output waveguide (46) is routed among the couplers of the array such that either backward or forward coupling exists. With backward coupling, energy coupled into the output waveguide (46) in a coupler of the array is guided back to the preceding coupler for coupling back into the input waveguide (45).The backward coupling allows recirculations to occur between couplers to create poles and zeroes in the transfer function of the array which transfer function can be programmed or tailored somewhat to have specific characteristics. Further, the backward coupling allows the array to be used for matrix-vector multiplication.
摘要:
A fiber optic switch module that can be incorporated into switch designs characterized by negligible crosstalk. The switch module is capable of operation over two wavelength bands. A 2.times.2 switch module has an open or bar state in which polished portions of the fiber segments are separated from each other and a closed or cross state where the polished portions are in optical contact with each other. The module has arbitrarily low crosstalk in the bar state, but typically some crosstalk in the cross state. In one embodiment, the third port of a first 2.times.2 module is coupled to the first port a second 2.times.2 module while no connections are-made to the second ports of the modules or to the third port of the second module. Fiber parameters (core radius and numerical aperture) and fabrication parameters (radius of curvature of the fibers in the interaction region and minimum edge-to-edge spacing between the fiber cores) are chosen so that the switch module has high coupling ratio (close to unity) in two distinct wavelength bands.
摘要:
A mode converter comprises an a-axis LiNbO.sub.3 optical fiber exhibiting a ferroelectric bi-domain structure. The fiber is subject to an electrical field that induces a +.pi./2 phase retardation in one domain of the fiber and a -.pi./2 phase retardation in the other domain. A light signal launched in the fundamental mode of the fiber is converted into a light signal propagating in the second order mode. When the electrical field is selected so that the phase retardations are not multiples of .pi./2, the mode conversion is partial and the LiNbO.sub.3 fiber can operate as an optical switch or as an amplitude modulator. The mode converter can also be operated as a second harmonic generator. The fiber is heated to a phase matching temperature so that a signal launched in the fundamental mode of the fiber and at a frequency .omega. is converted to the second order mode at a frequency 2.omega.. The LiNbO.sub.3 fiber can also simultaneously operate as an optical switch and as a second harmonic generator. Other non-linear interactions are possible such as sum or difference frequency generation or parametric generation. The various embodiments of the present invention are reciprocal.
摘要:
A periodic grating structure is placed on a facing surface formed on an optical fiber so that the grating structure is within a portion of the evanescent field of an optical signal propagating through the optical fiber. The spatial periodicity of the grating structure is selected to be equal to one-half the propagation wavelength of the optical signal. The grating structure causes the optical signal to be reflected at an angle of 180 degress and thus to propagate in a reverse direction from its original direction of propagation.