Patent · US Expired

Optoelectronic clock generator producing high frequency optoelectronic pulse trains with variable frequency and variable duty cycle and low jitter

US7333733B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
26References
21Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateMar 7, 2003
Grant dateFeb 19, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 19, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D62/85
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optoelectronic pulse generator is provided that includes a thyristor detector/emitter device having an input port and an output port. The thyristor detector/emitter device is adapted to detect an input optical pulse supplied to the input port and to produce an output optical pulse (via laser emission) and an output electrical pulse in response to the detected input optical pulse. The output optical pulse is output via the output port. An optical feedback path is operably coupled between the output port and the input port of the thyristor detector/emitter device. The optical feedback path supplies a portion of the output optical pulse produced by the thyristor detector/emitter device to the input port, thereby causing the thyristor detector/emitter device to produce a sequence of output optical pulses and a corresponding sequence of output electrical pulses. Preferably, the optical feedback path comprises a programmable optical delay line realized by a network of in-plane waveguide structures and directional coupler devices that are integrally formed with the thyristor device structure of the detector/emitter device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.