US6421154B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for high bandwidth laser-based data communication
Assignee: UNM Rainforest Innovations
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Filing: 2000-10-30
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Granted: 2002-07-16
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Expires: 2020-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A laser communication system includes a first laser to generate a laser signal with femtosecond pulses. A first grating spectrally disperses the femtosecond pulses of the laser signal. A modulator converts the femtosecond pulses of the laser signal into coded words. A second grating spectrally recombines the coded words of the laser signal. A first telescope launches the laser signal. A second telescope receives the laser signal. A second laser generates a set of reference pulses. A non-linear crystal combines the set of reference pulses and the laser signal so as to create an output signal only when the laser signal and the reference pulses temporally coincide. A detector records the output.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Claude Diels
- 👤 Ralph Bernstein
- 👤 Karl Stahlkopf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/50; H04B10/501; H04B10/503; H04B10/505; H04B10/508
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A laser communication apparatus, comprising: a first laser to generate a laser signal with femtosecond pulses; a first grating to spectrally disperse said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal; a modulator including a plurality of electrodes, wherein each one of said plurality of electrodes is coupled to a respective contact pad for receiving a data signal, and a plurality of waveguides formed in a waveguide substrate to convert said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal into coded words, wherein each one of said plurality of waveguides is proximate to at least a different one of said electrodes; a second grating to spectrally recombine said coded words of said laser signal; and a telescope to launch said laser signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A laser communication apparatus, comprising: a first laser to generate a laser signal with femtosecond pulses; a first grating to spectrally disperse said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal; a modulator including a plurality of electrodes, wherein each one of said plurality of electrodes is coupled to a respective contact pad for receiving a data signal, and a plurality of waveguides formed in a waveguide substrate to convert said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal into coded words, wherein each one of said plurality of waveguides is proximate to at least a different one of said electrodes; a second grating to spectrally recombine said coded words of said laser signal; and a telescope to launch said laser signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said modulator is an amplitude modulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each waveguide in said amplitude modulator forms a portion of an interferometer to process a spectral component of said laser signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising lenses positioned on said waveguide substrate at the input and output of each waveguide of said plurality of waveguides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said lenses are microlenses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of waveguide substrates arranged in a stack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said modulator is a phase modulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each waveguide in said phase modulator forms a portion of an interferometer to process a spectral component of said laser signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising lenses positioned on said waveguide substrate at the input and output of each waveguide of said plurality of waveguides.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lenses are microlenses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of waveguide substrates arranged in a stack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a receiving telescope to receive said laser signal; a second laser to generate a set of reference pulses; a non-linear crystal to combine said set of reference pulses and said laser signal so as to create an output signal only when said laser signal and said reference pulses temporally coincide; and a detector to record said output signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second laser is synchronized with said first laser by injection mode locking.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said non-linear crystal amplitude modulates said laser signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a cross-correlator to cross-correlate reference pulses from said second laser with selected spectral components of said laser signal to determine whether said selected spectral components have been phase shifted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first laser simultaneously generates said laser signal and a synchronization signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of waveguides is formed on a crystal of lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ).
Claim 19
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of laser-based data communication, said method comprising the steps of: generating a laser signal with femtosecond pulses; spectrally dispersing said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal; transmitting a data signal to a contact pad coupled to at least one of a plurality of electrodes; converting said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal into coded words in an array of waveguides formed in a waveguide substrate, wherein each waveguide in said array is proximate to at least a different one of said plurality of electrodes; spectrally recombining said coded words of said laser signal; and launching said laser signal from a home location to a remote destination.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of laser-based data communication, said method comprising the steps of: generating a laser signal with femtosecond pulses; spectrally dispersing said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal; transmitting a data signal to a contact pad coupled to at least one of a plurality of electrodes; converting said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal into coded words in an array of waveguides formed in a waveguide substrate, wherein each waveguide in said array is proximate to at least a different one of said plurality of electrodes; spectrally recombining said coded words of said laser signal; and launching said laser signal from a home location to a remote destination.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said converting step includes the step of amplitude modulating said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said converting step includes the step of processing spectral components of said laser signal in an interferometer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said converting step includes the step of phase modulating said femtosecond pulses of said laser signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said converting step includes the step of processing spectral components of said laser signal in an interferometer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: receiving said laser signal at said remote destination; generating a set of reference pulses; combining said set of reference pulses and said laser signal so as to create an output signal only when said laser signal and said reference pulses temporally coincide; and recording said output signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of synchronizing a laser at said home location with a laser at said remote destination by injection mode locking.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said combining step includes the step of amplitude modulating said laser signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of cross-correlating reference pulses from said laser at said remote destination with selected spectral components of said laser signal to determine whether said spectral components have been phase shifted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said generating step includes the step of simultaneously generating said laser signal and a synchronization signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-07-15 | 2006-01-14 | 2006-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-15 | 2010-01-14 | 2010-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-15 | 2014-01-14 | 2014-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |