US5583516A — Wavelength-selectable optical signal processor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 86 words

An optical delay processor comprising: a plurality of input means each receiving an identical portion of a modulated optical beam, the optical beam having a predetermined wavelength; a succession of optical delay pathways each coupled to one of said input means, wherein the distance each beam traverses through each delay pathway varies as a function of said predetermined wavelength of the optical beam, and wherein said distance for any one of said predetermined wavelengths creates a predetermined delay pattern across said succession of optical delay pathways.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 86 words

An optical delay processor comprising: a plurality of input means each receiving an identical portion of a modulated optical beam, the optical beam having a predetermined wavelength; a succession of optical delay pathways each coupled to one of said input means, wherein the distance each beam traverses through each delay pathway varies as a function of said predetermined wavelength of the optical beam, and wherein said distance for any one of said predetermined wavelengths creates a predetermined delay pattern across said succession of optical delay pathways.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The optical time delay processor of claim 1 wherein said distance for a first wavelength varies linearly from a maximum for the first optical delay pathway in said secession to a minimum for the last delay pathway in said succession.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The optical time delay processor of claim 2 wherein said distance for a second wavelength varies linearly from a minimum for the first optical delay pathway to a maximum for the last optical delay pathway in the succession.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said distance for said predetermined wavelengths varies non-linearly across said succession of optical delay pathways.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 171 words

The optical delay processor of claim 1 wherein said optical delay pathways further comprise: optical coupler means including input, output and interface points, said coupler means receiving said optical signal from said input means at said coupler input point and routing it out of said coupler at said interface point, said coupler means also directing optical signals entering said interface point out of said coupler at said output point; and time delay unit coupled to said coupler interface point for directing said optical signal along a path and reflecting the signal back to said interface point, the time delay unit comprising an optical fiber having reflective elements spaced at intervals along said fiber, said reflecting elements reflecting light received from said interface point and back to said interface point, said reflective elements reflecting light received from said interface point and back to said interface point, said reflective elements each substantially reflecting a different band of wavelengths, wherein different wavelengths of light travel optical paths of different lengths within said optical fiber.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coupler means includes a beamsplitter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said reflector elements comprise reflective gratings.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said reflective gratings are Bragg reflective gratings formed inside said optical fiber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fiber includes an absorber at the end opposite said second interface point for preventing reflections from said opposite end.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 204 words

The optical delay processor of claim 1 wherein said optical delay pathways further comprises: optical coupler means having input, output and interface points, said optical coupler receiving said optical signal from said input means at said coupler input point, and routing it out of said coupler at said interface point, said coupler means also directing optical signals entering said interface point out of said coupler at said output point; time delay unit coupled to said coupler interface point for directing said optical signal along a path and directing said signal back to said interface point, the time delay unit including a dispersive element for reflecting said optical signal at an angle that is a function of the wavelength of the optical signal, said time delay unit including a reflecting means for reflecting said optical signal back to said dispersive element along an optical path whose length is a function of said angle, wherein the total path length of said optical signal in said time delay unit depends on its optical wavelength; and light output means coupled to said coupler output point, whereby the total time it takes said optical signal to travel from said input means to said output means depends on its wavelength.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said dispersive element is a diffraction grating.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said reflecting means includes a plurality of mirrors spaced at different locations and distances from said dispersive element, and wherein each mirror receives light reflected from said dispersive element at selected angles.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said reflecting means includes a mirror receiving light reflected from said dispersive element, and a retroreflector for reflecting light from said mirror back toward said mirror.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said reflecting means comprises a monolithic mirror of multiple mirror surfaces.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 200 words

A phased array antenna system comprising: a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array; signal input means for receiving at least one electrical data signal; means for converting said electrical data signal into a modulated optical signal; an optical delay processor coupled to said array, said optical delay processor including a plurality of input means each receiving an identical portion of a modulated optical beam, the optical beam having a predetermined wavelength, and a succession of optical delay pathways each coupled to one of said input means, wherein the distance each beam traverses through each delay pathway varies as a function of said given wavelength of the optical beam, and wherein said distance for any one of said given wavelengths creates a predetermined delay pattern across said succession of optical delay pathways; output means coupled to said delay pathway outputs; means for coupling said modulated optical signal to each of said inputs in said optical delay processor; means for converting said optical delay processor output into electrical signals; and means for coupling said electrical signals derived from said optical delay processor output to said antenna elements, whereby said antenna elements receive said electrical signals in said predetermined delay pattern.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 200 words

A phased array antenna system comprising: a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array; signal input means for receiving at least one electrical data signal; means for converting said electrical data signal into a modulated optical signal; an optical delay processor coupled to said array, said optical delay processor including a plurality of input means each receiving an identical portion of a modulated optical beam, the optical beam having a predetermined wavelength, and a succession of optical delay pathways each coupled to one of said input means, wherein the distance each beam traverses through each delay pathway varies as a function of said given wavelength of the optical beam, and wherein said distance for any one of said given wavelengths creates a predetermined delay pattern across said succession of optical delay pathways; output means coupled to said delay pathway outputs; means for coupling said modulated optical signal to each of said inputs in said optical delay processor; means for converting said optical delay processor output into electrical signals; and means for coupling said electrical signals derived from said optical delay processor output to said antenna elements, whereby said antenna elements receive said electrical signals in said predetermined delay pattern.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The phased array antenna of claim 15 wherein said distance for a first wavelength varies linearly from a maximum for the first optical delay pathway in said secession to a minimum for the last delay pathway in said succession.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The phased array antenna of claim 15 wherein said distance for a second wavelength varies linearly from a minimum for the first optical delay pathway to a maximum for the last optical delay pathway in the succession.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The phased array antenna of claim 15 wherein said antenna elements comprise a conformal antenna and wherein said delay pattern is derived from the shape of said conformal antenna.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 65 words

The phased array antenna of claim 15 wherein said signal means simultaneously receives a plurality of electrical data signals, and said means for converting produces simultaneously a plurality of modulated optical signals at different wavelengths, and wherein said antenna elements simultaneously receive a plurality of electrical signals and a plurality of delay patterns, whereby said antenna elements can direct multiple beams in multiple directions simultaneously.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 50 words

The phased array antenna of claim 15 wherein said means for converting said electrical data signals into modified optical signals comprises a wavelength selectable tunable laser and wherein said predetermined delay pattern and resultant in beam direction is determined by the selection of the wavelength of the tuneable laser output.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 172 words

The phased array antenna system of claim 15 wherein said optical delay processor further comprises: optical coupler means including input, output and interface points, said coupler means receiving said optical signal from said input means at said coupler input point and routing it out of said coupler at said interface point, said coupler means also directing optical signals entering said interface point out of said coupler at said output point; and time delay unit coupled to said coupler interface point for directing said optical signal along a path and reflecting the signal back to said interface point, the time delay unit comprising an optical fiber having reflective elements spaced at intervals along said fiber, said reflecting elements reflecting light received from said interface point and back to said interface point, said reflective elements reflecting light received from said interface point and back to said interface point, said reflective elements each substantially reflecting a different band of wavelengths, wherein different wavelengths of light travel optical paths of different lengths within said optical fiber.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 205 words

The phased array antenna system of claim 15 wherein said optical delay processor further comprises: optical coupler means having input, output and interface points, said optical coupler receiving said optical signal from said input means at said coupler input point, and routing it out of said coupler at said interface point, said coupler means also directing optical signals entering said interface point out of said coupler at said output point; time delay unit coupled to said coupler interface point for directing said optical signal along a path and directing said signal back to said interface point, the time delay unit including a dispersive element for reflecting said optical signal at an angle that is a function of the wavelength of the optical signal, said time delay unit including a reflecting means for reflecting said optical signal back to said dispersive element along an optical path whose length is a function of said angle, wherein the total path length of said optical signal in said time delay unit depends on its optical wavelength; and light output means coupled to said coupler output point, whereby the total time it takes said optical signal to travel from said input means to said output means depends on its wavelength.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 163 words

An optical signal processing system comprising: a plurality of input means each receiving an identical portion of a modulated optical beam, the optical beam having a predetermined wavelength; a succession of optical delay pathways each coupled to one of said input means, wherein the distance each beam traverses through each delay pathway varies as a function of said predetermined wavelength of the optical beam, and wherein said distance for any one of said predetermined wavelengths creates a predetermined delay pattern across said succession of optical delay pathways; signal input means for receiving at least one electrical data signal; means for converting said electrical data signal into a modulated optical signal; means for coupling said modulated optical signal to each of said inputs in said optical delay processor; means for combining the outputs of said optical delay pathways; and means for converting said combined optical delay processor output into output electrical signals whereby said predetermined delay pattern is imposed on said output electrical signals.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 163 words

An optical signal processing system comprising: a plurality of input means each receiving an identical portion of a modulated optical beam, the optical beam having a predetermined wavelength; a succession of optical delay pathways each coupled to one of said input means, wherein the distance each beam traverses through each delay pathway varies as a function of said predetermined wavelength of the optical beam, and wherein said distance for any one of said predetermined wavelengths creates a predetermined delay pattern across said succession of optical delay pathways; signal input means for receiving at least one electrical data signal; means for converting said electrical data signal into a modulated optical signal; means for coupling said modulated optical signal to each of said inputs in said optical delay processor; means for combining the outputs of said optical delay pathways; and means for converting said combined optical delay processor output into output electrical signals whereby said predetermined delay pattern is imposed on said output electrical signals.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-12-10	2000-06-10	2000-12-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-12-10	2004-06-10	2004-12-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-12-10	2008-06-10	2008-12-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Wavelength-selectable optical signal processor

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag