公开(公告)号：US06529674B2

公开(公告)日：2003-03-04

申请号：US09998545

申请日：2001-11-29

申请人： Richard A. Fields ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

发明人： Richard A. Fields ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

IPC分类号： G02B600

CPC分类号： G02F3/00 ,  G02F1/3515 ,  G02F1/3523

摘要： An optical device for use with an optical input beam comprising an optical thresholding device positioned along an optical path defined by the propagation direction of the optical input beam. If the combined intensity of the optical input beam and a control beam exceeds a threshold level, the optical beam passes through the thresholding device. Preferably, the optical thresholding device is a saturable absorber. When the device is configured as an optical comparator, the intensity of the optical input beam exceeds the threshold level and the thresholding device saturates and turns transparent so that the control beam passes through the thresholding device as an optical indicator beam. When the device is configured as an optical signal attenuator and the intensity of the optical input signal is negligible compared to that of the control beam, the combined intensity of the beams does not saturate the thresholding device.

摘要翻译： 一种用于光输入光束的光学装置，包括沿着由光输入光束的传播方向限定的光路定位的光阈值设备。 如果光输入光束和控制光束的组合强度超过阈值电平，则光束通过阈值设备。 优选地，光阈值设备是可饱和吸收器。 当设备被配置为光学比较器时，光输入光束的强度超过阈值电平，并且阈值设备饱和并变透明，使得控制光束作为光指示器光束通过阈值设备。 当器件被配置为光信号衰减器并且光输入信号的强度与控制光束的强度相比可忽略时，光束的组合强度不会使阈值设备饱和。

公开(公告)号：US06327399B1

公开(公告)日：2001-12-04

申请号：US09444977

申请日：1999-11-22

申请人： Richard A. Fields ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

发明人： Richard A. Fields ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

IPC分类号： G02B626

CPC分类号： G02F3/00 ,  G02F1/3515 ,  G02F1/3523

摘要： An optical device for use with an optical input beam comprises and optical thresholding device having a predetermined threshold level, and is positioned along an optical path defined by the propagation direction of the optical input beam. A source generates a control beam through the optical thresholding device, wherein if the combined intensity of the optical input beam and the control beam is large enough to exceed the threshold level of the thresholding device, the optical beam passes through he thresholding device. The thresholding device attenuates the optical beam as it passes therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the optical thresholding device is a saturable absorber. When the device is configured as an optical comparator, the intensity of the optical input beam is large enough to exceed the threshold level of the thresholding device, the thresholding device saturates and turns transparent so that the control beam passes through the thresholding device as an optical indicator beam and the optical input beam passes through the thresholding device. When configured as an optical signal attenuator and the intensity of the optical input signal is negligible compared to that of the control beam the combined intensity of the optical input signal and the control beam do not saturate the thresholding device.

摘要翻译： 用于光输入光束的光学装置包括具有预定阈值电平的光阈值装置，并且沿着由光输入光束的传播方向限定的光路定位。 源通过光阈值设备产生控制光束，其中如果光输入光束和控制光束的组合强度足够大以超过阈值设备的阈值电平，则光束通过阈值设备。 阈值装置在光束通过时衰减光束。 在优选实施例中，光阈值设备是可饱和吸收器。 当该设备被配置为光学比较器时，光输入光束的强度足够大以超过阈值设备的阈值电平，阈值设备饱和并变透明，使得控制光束作为光学器件通过阈值设备 指示光束和光输入光束通过阈值设备。 配置为光信号衰减器时，光输入信号的强度与控制光束的强度相比可忽略不计，光输入信号和控制光束的组合强度不会使阈值设备饱和。

公开(公告)号：US6160504A

公开(公告)日：2000-12-12

申请号：US343733

申请日：1999-06-30

申请人： Richard A. Fields ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Bruce A. Ferguson

发明人： Richard A. Fields ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Bruce A. Ferguson

IPC分类号： G02F7/00 ,  H03M1/12 ,  H03M1/38 ,  H03M1/00

CPC分类号： G02F7/00 ,  H03M1/1235 ,  H03M1/38

摘要： An optical quantizer (10) that employs a chain of optical thresholding devices (16) positioned in the propagation path of an optical input beam (12) to be quantized. Each optical thresholding device (16) saturates and turns transparent if the intensity of the optical beam (12) that impinges it is above a predetermined threshold level designed into the device (16). If the input beam (12) saturates the optical thresholding device (16), the device (16) outputs an indicator signal (22) identifying the saturation. The input beam (12) propagates through the optical thresholding device (16) with some attenuation caused by the saturation, and impinges subsequent optical thresholding devices (16) in the chain. Eventually, the attenuation of the input beam (12) caused by the multiple saturations will decrease the beam intensity below the threshold level of the next optical thresholding device (16). The number of indicator signals (22) gives an indication of the intensity of the input beam (12). The optical thresholding devices (16) can provide optical or electrical indicator signals (22) depending on the type of thresholding device (16) used.

摘要翻译： 一种光量化器（10），其使用位于要被量化的光输入光束（12）的传播路径中的光阈值设备（16）链。 如果撞击它的光束（12）的强度高于设计到设备（16）中的预定阈值水平，则每个光阈值设备（16）饱和并变透明。 如果输入光束（12）饱和光学阈值设备（16），则设备（16）输出识别饱和度的指示符信号（22）。 输入光束（12）通过光阈值设备（16）以由饱和度引起的一些衰减传播，并且将后续光阈值设备（16）照射在链中。 最终，由多个饱和引起的输入光束（12）的衰减将使光束强度降低到下一个光阈值设备（16）的阈值电平以下。 指示信号（22）的数量给出了输入光束（12）的强度的指示。 光学阈值设备（16）可以根据所使用的阈值设备（16）的类型来提供光学或电子指示符信号（22）。

公开(公告)号：US6160930A

公开(公告)日：2000-12-12

申请号：US133036

申请日：1998-08-11

申请人： Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Richard A. Fields ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

发明人： Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Richard A. Fields ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

IPC分类号： G02B6/00 ,  G02F7/00 ,  H03M1/36 ,  H04B10/02 ,  G02B6/26

CPC分类号： H03M1/368 ,  G02F7/00

摘要： The optical hold unit (100) of the present invention includes an optical modulator (108) that has an electrical input, an optical input, and an optical output. A 1.times.N optical splitter (106) is also provided that has an optical input and N optical outputs. In addition, N optical paths (112) are individually coupled to the N optical outputs and carry one of the N output signals. Each optical path has an associated propagation delay. Optical delay elements may be located in any of the N optical paths that carry the output signals. The optical delay elements serve to lengthen the propagation delay (114a-e) of the optical path (112a-e) in which the optical delay element is located. In an alternative embodiment, the optical hold unit (200) includes an optical modulator (108) that has an electrical input, an optical input, and an optical output. An optical resonator (202) is also provided and connected to the optical output of the modulator (108). The optical resonator (202) also includes a partially transmissive output (222) to which an optical path is connected. The optical resonator (202) may also include a gain medium (208) or an optical switch (210).

摘要翻译： 本发明的光学保持单元（100）包括具有电输入，光输入和光输出的光调制器（108）。 还提供了具有光输入和N个光输出的1xN光分路器（106）。 此外，N个光路（112）分别耦合到N个光输出并传送N个输出信号中的一个。 每个光路具有相关联的传播延迟。 光延迟元件可以位于承载输出信号的N个光路中的任一个中。 光延迟元件用于延长光延迟元件所位于的光路（112a-e）的传播延迟（114a-e）。 在替代实施例中，光学保持单元（200）包括具有电输入，光输入和光输出的光调制器（108）。 光学谐振器（202）也被提供并连接到调制器（108）的光输出端。 光谐振器（202）还包括连接光路的部分透射输出（222）。 光谐振器（202）还可以包括增益介质（208）或光开关（210）。

公开(公告)号：US06292119B1

公开(公告)日：2001-09-18

申请号：US09345295

申请日：1999-06-30

申请人： Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Richard A. Fields ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

发明人： Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Richard A. Fields ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

IPC分类号： H03M100

CPC分类号： G02F7/00

摘要： An optical analog-to-digital converter (10) that makes use of a downward-folding successive approximation conversion scheme that employs subtraction of optical signals. A pulsed optical signal (20) to be converted is applied as an input to each of a plurality of converter channels (12, 14, 16, 18), where each channel (12, 14, 16, 18) outputs one of the bits of the digital output of the converter (10). The input signal (20) to each channel (12, 14, 16, 18) is sent to a thresholding device (24, 40, 60, 80) that determines whether the intensity of the signal is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold value. The first channel thresholding device (24) compares the input signal (20) to a threshold value that is one-half of a known maximum intensity. Subsequent channel thresholding devices (40, 60, 80) compare the input signal to a threshold value that is one-half of the intensity used in the previous channel in a downward-folding scheme. If the intensity of the input signal (20) is greater than the threshold value in a particular channel (12, 14, 16, 18), then that threshold value is subtracted from the input signal (20) in each of the successive channels before being applied to the thresholding device (40, 60, 80) in that channel (14, 16, 18). The subtraction elements (38, 56, 58, 74, 76, 78) can be saturable absorbers or electro-absorption modules in a particular design. Additionally, the control signals from a particular channel (12, 14, 16, 18) to each of the successive channels to determine whether subtraction will occur can be provided by an optically controlled switch (30, 46, 66), such as a saturable absorber, or an electrically controlled switch, such as an electro-absorption module.

摘要翻译： 一种光学模数转换器（10），其使用采用减法光信号的向下折叠逐次逼近转换方案。 将要转换的脉冲光信号（20）作为输入施加到多个转换器通道（12,14,16,18）中的每一个，其中每个通道（12,14,16,18）输出其中一个位 的转换器（10）的数字输出。 每个通道（12,14,16,18）的输入信号（20）被发送到阈值设备（24,40,60,80），其确定信号的强度是否大于或小于预定阈值 值。 第一信道阈值设备（24）将输入信号（20）与已知最大强度的二分之一的阈值进行比较。 随后的信道阈值设备（40,60,80）将输入信号与向下折叠方案中先前信道中使用的强度的一半的阈值进行比较。 如果输入信号（20）的强度大于特定通道（12,14,16,18）中的阈值，则在每个连续通道中的输入信号（20）中减去该阈值，之后 被施加到该通道（14,16,18）中的阈值设备（40,60,80）。 减法元件（38,56,58,74,76,78）可以是特定设计中的可饱和吸收器或电吸收模块。 另外，来自特定通道（12,14,16,18）到每个连续通道的控制信号可以由光控开关（30,46,66）提供，以确定是否发生减法，例如可饱和的 吸收器或电控开关，例如电吸收模块。

公开(公告)号：US06515784B2

公开(公告)日：2003-02-04

申请号：US09840858

申请日：2001-04-24

申请人： Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Richard A. Fields ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

发明人： Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Bruce A. Ferguson ,  Richard A. Fields ,  Mark Kintis ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  David L. Rollins ,  Eric L. Upton

IPC分类号： G02F103

CPC分类号： G02F3/00 ,  G02F1/3515

摘要： An optical inverting system employs a first optical structure having an index of refraction that varies with the intensity of an incident beam and a second optical structure having a constant index of refraction, and forming an interface therebetween. An optical pulse stream is combined with a laser beam and the combined beam is applied to the first optical structure, impinging the interface at a predetermined angle of incidence. If the angle of incidence is less than a critical angle, the beam is refracted into the second optical structure. If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, the beam is completely reflected at the interface. Thus the output of the second optical structure is an inversion, and the output of the first optical structure is a level shifted replica, of the optical digital pulse stream.

公开(公告)号：US6064325A

公开(公告)日：2000-05-16

申请号：US133037

申请日：1998-08-11

申请人： Richard A. Fields ,  David L. Rollins ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis

发明人： Richard A. Fields ,  David L. Rollins ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis

IPC分类号： G02F7/00 ,  H03M1/00

CPC分类号： G02F7/00

摘要： A frequency modulation-based optical analog-to-digital converter utilizes a downward-folding, successive approximation approach. A series of stages is utilized to generate bits in the digital signal. In each stage, complementary low and high bandpass filters collectively cover a bandpass frequency range from a low frequency to a high frequency. The high frequency filtered signal from the high bandpass filter is observed to obtain a bit in the digital word. By performing the folding operations in the frequency domain, the converter avoids the difficult task of optical power subtraction, relying instead on frequency down-conversions. The high frequency filtered signal passed by the high bandpass filter is then downconverted and added to the low pass filter signal to generate a modulated signal for the next stage.

摘要翻译： 基于频率调制的光学模数转换器利用向下折叠的逐次近似方法。 利用一系列级来产生数字信号中的位。 在每个阶段，互补的低和高带通滤波器共同覆盖从低频到高频的带通频率范围。 观察到来自高带通滤波器的高频滤波信号以获得数字字中的位。 通过在频域执行折叠操作，转换器避免了光功率减法的困难任务，而是依靠降频转换。 然后，由高带通滤波器通过的高频滤波信号被下变频并加到低通滤波器信号中，以生成下一级的调制信号。

公开(公告)号：US6035079A

公开(公告)日：2000-03-07

申请号：US133032

申请日：1998-08-11

申请人： Richard A. Fields ,  David L. Rollins ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis

发明人： Richard A. Fields ,  David L. Rollins ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis

IPC分类号： G02F1/21 ,  G02F1/35 ,  G02F3/00 ,  G02B6/26

CPC分类号： G02F3/00 ,  G02F1/21 ,  G02F1/3523 ,  G02F2001/212

摘要： An optical inverter (10) that uses a saturable absorber (28) to distinguish between a logical one and a logical zero. A low power laser (18) generates an optical beam that is split into a first beam that propagates among a first beam path (24) and a second beam that propagates along a second beam path (26). The saturable absorber (28) is an optical switch that is positioned in the first beam path (24), and is switched from an opaque mode to a transparent mode when it receives an optical input signal. The first beam and the second beam are recombined as an optical output beam in an optical combiner (30). The first beam path (24) and the second beam path (26) have a length relative to each other such that the first and second beams are 180.degree. out of phase when they reach the optical combiner (30). Therefore, if the saturable absorber (28) is switched to the transparent mode, the first and second beams combine destructively and the optical output beam is dark, or a logical zero. When the saturable absorber (28) is in the opaque mode, the first beam is blocked so that the optical output beam is the second beam, providing a logical one. A second saturable absorber (34) can be provided to receive the optical output beam from the combiner (30) to absorb residual light when the output beam is dark. Additionally, an optical amplifier (36) can be provided to receive the optical output beam from the combiner (30) to amplify the optical output beam to a consistent, predetermined output level.

摘要翻译： 一种光学逆变器（10），其使用可饱和吸收器（28）来区分逻辑1和逻辑零点。 低功率激光器（18）产生光束，其被分裂成在沿第二光束路径（26）传播的第一光束路径（24）和第二光束之间传播的第一光束。 可饱和吸收器（28）是位于第一光束路径（24）中的光学开关，当其接收到光学输入信号时，从不透明模式切换到透明模式。 第一光束和第二光束在光合成器（30）中被重新组合为光输出光束。 第一光束路径（24）和第二光束路径（26）具有相对于彼此的长度，使得当第一和第二光束到达光合成器（30）时，第一和第二光束相位相差180度。 因此，如果可饱和吸收器（28）切换到透明模式，则第一和第二光束相消合并且光输出光束变暗或逻辑零。 当可饱和吸收器（28）处于不透明模式时，第一光束被阻挡，使得光输出光束是第二光束，提供逻辑的。 可以提供第二可饱和吸收器（34）以在组合器（30）处接收光输出光束以在输出光束较暗时吸收残余光。 另外，可以提供光放大器（36）以从组合器（30）接收光输出光束，以将光输出光束放大到一致的预定输出电平。

公开(公告)号：US06121907A

公开(公告)日：2000-09-19

申请号：US133038

申请日：1998-08-11

申请人： Richard A. Fields ,  David L. Rollins ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis

发明人： Richard A. Fields ,  David L. Rollins ,  Stephen R. Perkins ,  Eric L. Upton ,  Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  Lawrence J. Lembo ,  Juan C. Carillo, Jr. ,  Mark Kintis

IPC分类号： G02F7/00 ,  H03M1/00

CPC分类号： G02F7/00

摘要： An optical analog-to-digital converter (10) which fully operates in the optical domain and utilizes an upward-folding successive approximation approach for conversion. The converter (10) includes a plurality of optical stages (14, 16, 18) where each stage (14, 16, 18) generates a digital bit. Each stage (14, 16, 18) includes an optical threshold switch (30, 56, 78) that sets the bit high when the switch (30, 56, 78) is closed. When a sample amplitude of the analog signal is compared to a threshold value and found to exceed the threshold value, the bit is set to "high" and the sample is passed directly onto the next stage (14, 16, 18). If the sample amplitude is found to be less than the threshold value, the bit is set to "low" and an intensity equal to the maximum signal intensity minus the threshold intensity is added to the sample amplitude. Each successive stage (14, 16, 18) compares the normalized signal sample to thresholds growing closer and closer to the maximum signal intensity. Multiple bits can be obtained by cascading stages.

摘要翻译： 一种光学模拟 - 数字转换器（10），其在光学域中完全操作并且利用向上折叠的逐次逼近方法进行转换。 转换器（10）包括多个光学级（14,16,18），其中每个级（14,16,18）产生数字位。 每个级（14,16,18）包括一个光学阈值开关（30,56,78），当开关（30,56,78）关闭时，它将位置高。 当将模拟信号的采样幅度与阈值进行比较并发现超过阈值时，将该位设置为“高”，并将样本直接传递到下一级（14,16,18）。 如果发现样品振幅小于阈值，则该位被设置为“低”，并且将等于最大信号强度减去阈值强度的强度加到样本幅度上。 每个连续级（14,16,18）将归一化信号样本与越来越接近最大信号强度的阈值进行比较。 可以通过级联级获得多个位。

公开(公告)号：US06933583B2

公开(公告)日：2005-08-23

申请号：US10411873

申请日：2003-04-10

申请人： Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  David V. Forbes ,  David C. Scott ,  Timothy A. Vang ,  Wenshen Wang

发明人： Elizabeth T. Kunkee ,  David V. Forbes ,  David C. Scott ,  Timothy A. Vang ,  Wenshen Wang

IPC分类号： G02F1/017 ,  G02F1/225 ,  G02F1/35

CPC分类号： G02F1/2257 ,  G02F2201/126

摘要： A coupled quantum well Mach-Zehnder modulator that employs a push-pull structure to reduce the modulation voltage. The Mach-Zehnder modulator includes a first arm having a first PIN semiconductor device and a second arm having a second PIN semiconductor device. The intrinsic layers of the PIN devices include a coupled quantum well structure to provide an opposite index of refraction change for different DC bias voltages. An RF signal used to modulate the light beam is applied to the two arms in phase and causes the index of refraction in the intrinsic layers of the two PIN devices to change in opposite directions so that a push-pull type drive is achieved without requiring 180° out-of-phase RF drive signal.

摘要翻译： 耦合量子阱马赫 - 曾德调制器采用推挽结构来降低调制电压。 马赫 - 策德尔调制器包括具有第一PIN半导体器件的第一臂和具有第二PIN半导体器件的第二臂。 PIN器件的本征层包括耦合的量子阱结构，以为不同的DC偏置电压提供相反的折射率变化。 用于调制光束的RF信号被同时施加到两个臂上，并且使得两个PIN器件的本征层中的折射率在相反方向上改变，使得实现推挽式驱动而不需要180° °异相RF驱动信号。