US3614451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sampling system utilizing electrooptic techniques
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1968-08-19
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1988-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A sampling system is described which utilizes electrooptic techniques for sampling an electrical signal. Short duration light pulses are polarized and directed through a crystal exhibiting either a linear or longitudinal electrooptic effect or through a liquid showing a large Kerr effect, located in traveling wave relationship with a terminated transmission line structure. The group velocity of the polarized light, that is, the velocity of a light pulse, or the velocity, of the modulation envelope of a modulated light beam, along the electrooptic crystal and the phase velocity of the electrical signal along the transmission line structure are in synchronism. Due to electrically induced birefringence, the state of polarization of the light pulse is altered according to the electrical field intensity to which the electrooptic crystal is subjected by that portion of the electrical signal traveling coincidentally along the transmission line structure. Consequently, the transmission of the light pulse by a crossed analyzer placed at the output of the electrooptic crystal varies in response to the coincidental portion of the electrical signal. The energy of the light pulse emanating from the analyzer is detected and directed to a utilization of circuit, for example, the hold and display circuitry of a sampling oscilloscope.
Inventors
- 👤 John B Gunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:42
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/0344; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/07; G01R1/071; G01R13/00; G01R13/20; G01R13/22; G01R13/34; G01R13/347
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
In combination, a transparent medium having controllable optical properties, means for directing a pulse of light through said medium, the spatial extent of said pulse being substantially less than the optical path length through said medium, means for varying the optical properties of discrete portions of said medium synchronously with the propagation of said pulse of light traveling through said discrete portions to indicate particular information, and means responsive to said pulse of light for ascertaining said particular information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
In combination, a transparent medium having controllable optical properties, means for directing a pulse of light through said medium, the spatial extent of said pulse being substantially less than the optical path length through said medium, means for varying the optical properties of discrete portions of said medium synchronously with the propagation of said pulse of light traveling through said discrete portions to indicate particular information, and means responsive to said pulse of light for ascertaining said particular information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination, a transparent medium exhibiting electro-optic properties, means for directing successive pulses of polarized light through said medium, the spatial extent of said pulses being substantially less than the optical path length through said medium, means for subjecting that portion of said medium along which a light pulse is traveling to electric fields of particular intensity indicative of particular information, the state of polarization of said light pulse as it travels along said medium being altered as a function of said electric field intensity, and means responSive to said pulse emanating from said medium for ascertaining said particular information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination, a transparent medium exhibiting electro-optic properties, means for directing successive pulses of polarized light through said medium, the spatial extent of said pulses being substantially less than the optical path length through said medium, means for subjecting that portion of said medium along which a light pulse is traveling to electric fields of particular intensity indicative of particular information, the state of polarization of said light pulse as it travels along said medium being altered as a function of said electric field intensity, and means responSive to said pulse emanating from said medium for ascertaining said particular information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said medium is a crystalline body formed of a material selected from the group consisting of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), potassium dideuterium phosphate (KDdP), ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP), lithium niobate (LiNbO3), barium sodium niobate (Ba2NaNb5O15), and gallium arsenide (GaAs).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said medium is a liquid exhibiting a large Kerr effect.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said subjecting means includes means for applying electrical fields having an intensity distribution and traveling substantially colinearly with said light pulses through said medium, the phase velocity of said distribution and the group velocity of said light pulses being substantially equal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said electric field distribution is repetitive and said directing means is operative to vary the time relationship between said successive pulses and said repetitive electric field distribution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said directing means is operative to direct at least one pulse through said medium during each repetition of said electric field distribution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
In combination, a transparent medium exhibiting electro-optic properties, means for directing a pulse of polarized light through said medium, the spatial extent of said light pulse being less than the optical path length of said pulse through said medium, means for varying said properties of said medium synchronously with the passage of said light pulse to vary the characteristics of said pulse, and means responsive to said light pulse emanating from said medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
In combination, a transparent medium exhibiting electro-optic properties, means for directing a pulse of polarized light through said medium, the spatial extent of said light pulse being less than the optical path length of said pulse through said medium, means for varying said properties of said medium synchronously with the passage of said light pulse to vary the characteristics of said pulse, and means responsive to said light pulse emanating from said medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said medium comprises a crystalline material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said varying means is operative to alter the state of polarization of said pulse traveling through said medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said medium comprises a liquid exhibiting a large Kerr effect.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
In combination, a transparent medium exhibiting electro-optic properties and a transmission line structure coupled in traveling wave fashion, the phase velocity of an electrical signal along said structure and the group velocity of light through said medium being substantially identical, first means for directing a pulse of polarized light along said medium, the spatial extent of said pulse being substantially less than the optical path length through said medium, second means for directing a varying electrical signal along said structure, a coincident portion of said electrical signal being effective to vary the transmission characteristics of that portion of said medium in which said pulse is traveling to change the character of said light pulse in accordance with said coincident portion of said electrical signal, and means responsive to said pulse emanating from said medium to ascertain information regarding that portion of said electrical signal which traveled along said structure coincidentally with said pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
153 words
In combination, a transparent medium exhibiting electro-optic properties and a transmission line structure coupled in traveling wave fashion, the phase velocity of an electrical signal along said structure and the group velocity of light through said medium being substantially identical, first means for directing a pulse of polarized light along said medium, the spatial extent of said pulse being substantially less than the optical path length through said medium, second means for directing a varying electrical signal along said structure, a coincident portion of said electrical signal being effective to vary the transmission characteristics of that portion of said medium in which said pulse is traveling to change the character of said light pulse in accordance with said coincident portion of said electrical signal, and means responsive to said pulse emanating from said medium to ascertain information regarding that portion of said electrical signal which traveled along said structure coincidentally with said pulse.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said second means includes means for directing a repetitively varying electrical signal concurrently along said structure, said first means being operative to direct successive pulses of polarized light through said medium and for controlling the time relationship of said pulses and said electrical signal so that successive ones of said pulses and electric signals have a different time relationship with respect to each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said responsive means includes means for storing said information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said responsive means includes hold and display circuitry of a sampling oscillOscope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |