Optical and gate
US5987040A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F3/00
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical AND gate includes at least one semiconductor laser amplifier (SLA) and inputs for first and second optical signals. The gate produces an output corresponding to the AND product of A and B. In one aspect of the invention, the first and second signals are equal in wavelength. The gate may comprise a single SLA which receives the first signal A together with a third signal P, which may be a continuous wave pump. The second signal B is input in an orthogonal polarization state to A and P. Alternatively, the gate may comprise a pair of SLAs. A first SLA receives the first signal A together with the pump P. A sideband is selected from the output of the first SLA and input to the second SLA together with the second signal B. A sideband is selected from the output of the second SLA corresponding to the AND product C of A and P with B.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.