Patent US4810050A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4810050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical inverter and logic devices using same with buffer limited electrical interface
Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC
•
Filing: 1986-05-21
•
Granted: 1989-03-07
•
Expires: 2006-05-21
Abstract
Abstract PCT No. PCT/GB86/00288 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 12, 1987 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 12, 1987 PCT Filed May 21, 1986 PCT Pub. No. WO86/07166 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 4, 1986.An optical logic device comprises a source of substantially constant, incoherent, optical power. Optical signal output means such as a waveguide switch receives the optical power from the source and has two output ports. The waveguide switch is responsive to electrical control signals selectively to generate optical signals on its output ports. A photodetector detects the logical condition of an optical input signal and generates a corresponding electrical control signal for controlling the waveguide switch. The arrangement is such that the optical condition of the output port is the logical complement of the logical condition represented by the optical input signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond C. Hooper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:48
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An optical logic device comprising: a source of substantially constant optical power; optical signal output means to which the optical power is fed, the optical signal output means having at least one output port and being responsive to electrical control signals selectively to generate optical signals on its at least one output port; optical signal input means to which an incoming optical signal is fed; and detection means for detecting an optical signal fed to the optical signal input means and for generating a corresponding electrical control signal limited in magnitude to a predetermined maximum value by a buffer limiting device and coupled to control the optical signal output means so that the optical condition of the output port is changed in the opposite sense to the incoming optical signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
An optical logic device comprising: a source of substantially constant optical power; optical signal output means to which the optical power is fed, the optical signal output means having at least one output port and being responsive to electrical control signals selectively to generate optical signals on its at least one output port; optical signal input means to which an incoming optical signal is fed; and detection means for detecting an optical signal fed to the optical signal input means and for generating a corresponding electrical control signal limited in magnitude to a predetermined maximum value by a buffer limiting device and coupled to control the optical signal output means so that the optical condition of the output port is changed in the opposite sense to the incoming optical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the optical signal output means has two output ports, the optical conditions of the output ports being changed in opposite senses in response to the same electrical control signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the optical signal output means comprises optical coupling means having an input port to which optical power from the source is fed and is adapted to couple different proportions of the optical power to the two output ports in response to the electrical control signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein the optical coupling means couples substantially all the optical power from the source to respective ones of its output ports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein the optical coupling means comprises a waveguide switch.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
22 words
A device according to any of the preceding claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein the detection means comprises a photodetector.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
23 words
A device according to any of the preceding claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the source generates an incoherent optical beam.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
40 words
A device according to any of the preceding claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, further comprising optical signal coupling means for coupling two input optical signals and for feeding the resultant coupled signal to the optical signal input means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
An optical logic assembly comprising a first and a second pair of devices according to claim 2 wherein said second pair of devices each include optical signal coupling means for coupling two input optical signals and for feeding the resultant coupled signal to the optical signal input means, the output ports of the first pair of devices being coupled with the optical signal coupling means of the second pair of devices such that the logic functions defined by signals generated on the output ports of the second pair of devices represent OR, NOR, NAND, AND respectively relative to the optical signals input to the first pair of devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical logic assembly comprising a plurality of devices according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein a common source of substantially constant optical power is provided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
In an optical signal inverter having an optical-electrical-optical interface wherein an optical output signal is switched under control of an electrical control signal generated by detection of an incoming optical signal, the improvement comprising: electrical signal buffering means for limiting the magnitude of said electrical control signal to no more than a predetermined maximum value which is below the value otherwise produced by incoming optical signal(s) in excess of a predetermined optical intensity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
In an optical signal inverter having an optical-electrical-optical interface wherein an optical output signal is switched under control of an electrical control signal generated by detection of an incoming optical signal, the improvement comprising: electrical signal buffering means for limiting the magnitude of said electrical control signal to no more than a predetermined maximum value which is below the value otherwise produced by incoming optical signal(s) in excess of a predetermined optical intensity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2936380A
Cited
US3781081A
Cited
JPS59222820A
Cited
JPS60263126A
Cited
JPS60263926A
Cited
JPS6142619A
Cited
JPS6142620A
Cited
JPS6186738A
Cited
JPS6188233A
Cited
JPS6188232A
Cited
JPS61121030A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-06 | 1992-09-05 | 1993-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-06 | 1996-09-05 | 1997-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-06 | 2000-09-05 | 2001-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |