Photonic assisted analog-to-digital conversion using phase detection
US8618966B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 2012 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03M1/1009
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of digitizing an analog electrical signal combines optical and electronic techniques in order to improve the resolution, sampling rate, input frequency range, or flexibility. It implements an optical interferometric modulator, which modulates an input optical signal by the input electrical signal combined with a calibration signal. A set of two or more photoreceivers receiving the output optical signals from the optical modulator produce output electrical signals, which are digitized and processed in a DSP to produce a digitized version of the electrical input signal, and a digitized calibration signal value is used to optimize the input electrical signal digitization. The method and the device can be used in many fields including instrumentation, communications, and imaging.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.