Optical detector for detecting optical signal beams, method to detect optical signals, and use of an optical detector to detect optical signals

US9077454B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FÜR TECHNOLOGIE · DE

Inventors

• Jingshi Li · Beijing, CN
• Matthias Lauermann · Karlsruhe, DE
• Sven Schule · Waldbronn, DE
• Juerg Leuthold · Walzbachtal, DE
• Wolfgang Freude · Karlsruhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 5, 2012
• Grant date: Jul 7, 2015
• Expiry date: Oct 17, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B10/677
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An optical detector for detecting an optical signal beam (OSB) modulated in a way that it includes an in-phase and/or a quadrature component, includes: a polarization beam splitter arranged to split the OSB into two polarized OSBs; a non-polarization beam splitter arranged to further split each of the two polarized OSBs into two split polarized OSBs; at least one birefringent element providing a phase shift, the birefringent element being arranged in a path of at least one polarized OSB and/or in a path of at least one split polarized OSB so that an in-phase and quadrature phase offset between two split polarized OSBs originating from the same polarized OSB is formed in output signal beams; and at least two detection means arranged to receive at least one output signal beam that includes a in-phase and/or quadrature component of the OSB.