US5778015A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical Pulse source
Assignee: IPG Photonics Corp
•
Filing: 1996-05-16
•
Granted: 1998-07-07
•
Expires: 2016-05-16
Abstract
Abstract An optical pulse source includes a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode (1). Light from a continuous wave source (3) is optically coupled into the laser cavity. Light output from the laser cavity passes through an electro-optic amplitude modulator (2). Synchronised modulating signals are applied to the semiconductor diode and to the amplitude modulator. The source outputs short low-jitter optical pulses and is suitable for use, for example, in a broadband optical network operating at high bit rates of 100 Gbit/s or more, or in an optical interconnect.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Gunning
- 👤 Russell Davey
- 👤 David Graham Moodie
- 👤 Kevin Smith
- 👤 Julian Lucek
- 👤 Derek Nesset
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/40; H01S5/4006; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/50; H04B10/501; H04B10/503; H04B10/505; H04B10/508
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An optical pulse source comprising a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode (SLD) (1), a continuous wave (cw) light source (3) coupled to the optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode, an electro-optic amplitude modulator (2) connected in series with the optical output of the semiconductor laser diode, and means (11,21) for applying synchronised modulating signals to the laser diode and to the modulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
An optical pulse source comprising a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode (SLD) (1), a continuous wave (cw) light source (3) coupled to the optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode, an electro-optic amplitude modulator (2) connected in series with the optical output of the semiconductor laser diode, and means (11,21) for applying synchronised modulating signals to the laser diode and to the modulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 1, in which the electro-optic amplitude modulator (2) is an electro-absorption modulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 1, in which the semiconductor laser diode is a distributed feedback semiconductor laser diode (DFB-SLD).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 1, in which the semiconductor laser diode is a Fabry Perot laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 1, further comprising optical pulse shaping means connected on the output side of the modulator (2).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 5, in which the optical pulse shaping means are connected to the output side of the modulator via an optical circulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 5, in which the pulse shaping means comprise a chirped grating (91).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 1, in which the means for applying synchronised modulating signals include at least one pulse generator (61,62) connected between an RF signal source (63) and a respective one of the SLD (1) and the EAM (2).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical pulse source according to claim 8 including two pulse generators and a single RF signal source (63) driving the SLD (1) and EAM (2) via the respective pulse generators.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An optical interconnect (80) including an optical pulse source according to claim 1.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of generating optical pulses comprising applying a first electrical modulating signal to a gate input of a gain-switched semi-conductor laser diode (1), coupling continuous wave light into the optical cavity of the laser diode, applying a second modulating signal synchronised to the first electrical modulating signal to a control input of an electro-optic amplitude modulator (2) and passing pulses output from the laser diode through the electro-optic amplitude modulator.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of generating optical pulses comprising applying a first electrical modulating signal to a gate input of a gain-switched semi-conductor laser diode (1), coupling continuous wave light into the optical cavity of the laser diode, applying a second modulating signal synchronised to the first electrical modulating signal to a control input of an electro-optic amplitude modulator (2) and passing pulses output from the laser diode through the electro-optic amplitude modulator.
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) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |