EP0622916A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical soliton generator
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-04-13
Abstract
Abstract An optical pulse generator for producing a soliton pulse train having a modulator which amplitude and phase modulates an optical frequency output of a continuous optical wave source. The modulator is driven by first and second harmonically related continuous sinusoidal waves from first and second CW voltage sources and the generator includes a pulse compression means for producing at the output of the generator a soliton pulse train.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Kenneth Korotky
- 👤 John J. Veselka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2507; H04B10/25077; G; G02; G02F; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for generating a soliton pulse train comprising: a source of a continuous wave optical signal; modulator means having an input for receiving the optical signal and producing an optical pulse output, said modulator means comprising means for amplitude modulating and phase modulating the optical signal; a first voltage source for applying a first continuous wave sinusoidal modulating voltage to said modulator means; a second voltage source for applying a second continuous wave sinusoidal modulating voltage harmonically related and phase locked to the first sinusoidal modulating voltage to said modulator; and optical pulse compression means having an input and an output for receiving the phase modulated optical signal to produce a pulse train at its output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said modulator means comprises an optical signal phase modulator having an input and an output and an optical signal amplitude modulator having an input and an output optically connected together in series.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said output of said amplitude modulator is optically connected to the input of said phase modulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the output of said phase modulator is connected to the input of said amplitude modulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said amplitude modulator is an interferometric type modulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said interferometric type modulator is a Y-branch Mach-Zehnder type modulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said phase modulator is an interferometric type modulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said interferometric type modulator is a Y-branch Mach-Zehnder type modulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said modulator means comprises a Y-branch interferometric type modulator with said first and second voltage source being electrically connected to one arm of the Y and said first and second voltage source being electrically connected to the other branch of the Y.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical pulse compression means comprises an optical material having a group velocity dispersion characteristic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said optical material is a dispersive optical fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
161 words
A pulse generator having an output comprising: a source of a continuous wave optical signal; a first modulator having an input connected to the output of said source and an output; a first source of a continuous wave sinusoidal modulating voltage at a frequency f electrically connected to said first modulator means; a second modulator having an input and an output and having a cosine² transfer function; a second source of a continuous wave sinusoidal modulating voltage at a frequency f/2 electrically connected to said second modulator means; the modulating voltages from said first and second sources being phase-locked together; pulse compression means having an input and an output with its input being connected to at least one of the said outputs of said first and second modulator means producing at the output of the pulse generator a pulse train having a ratio of pulse period T to pulse full width at half maximum τ greater than three ( T /τ>3).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pulse generator as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first and second modulator means are serially optically connected together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pulse generator as claimed in claim 12 wherein the output of said first modulator is optically connected to the input of said second modulator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pulse generator as claimed in claim 12 wherein the output of said second modulator is optically connected to the input of said first modulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pulse generator as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first modulator comprises a Y-arm Mach-Zehnder type of interferometric modulator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pulse generator as claimed in claim 12 wherein said second modulator comprises a Y-arm Mach-Zehnder type of interferometric modulator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pulse generator as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first modulator and said second modulator are incorporated into a single unitary structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5157744A
Cited
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