US5111333A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical mixer
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-19
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Granted: 1992-05-05
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Expires: 2010-09-19
Abstract
Abstract An optical mixer is provided for up/down-converting a first intensity-modulated optical signal (S1), the mixer comprising an optical amplifier (20) and gain-modulating means (23) for modulating the gain of the optical amplifier. The gain-modulating means (23) comprises means for generating a second intensity-modulated optical signal (S2) and launching it into the optical amplifier (20) at an intensity to cause the amplifier to operate at least partially within its saturated gain region. This causes the gain of the amplifier to be modulated at the frequency of modulation of the second optical signal (S2).
Inventors
- 👤 Alistair N. Coles
- 👤 David G. Cunningham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:26
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F2/00; G02F2/002; H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/06; H01S5/0607; H01S5/0608; H01S5/0609; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An optical mixer for up/down-converting a sub-carrier signal of a first frequency, that is intensity-modulated onto a first optical signal, said optical mixer comprising: (a) an optical amplifier; and (b) gain-modulating means, optically coupled to the optical amplifier, for modulating the gain of the optical amplifier, said gain-modulating means comprising means for generating a second optical signal intensity-modulated at a second frequency and launching said second optical signal into said optical amplifier at an intensity sufficient to cause the optical amplifier to operate at least partially within its saturated gain region, thereby causing the gain of the optical amplifier to be modulated at said second frequency resulting in up/down conversion of said sub-carrier signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An optical mixer for up/down-converting a sub-carrier signal of a first frequency, that is intensity-modulated onto a first optical signal, said optical mixer comprising: (a) an optical amplifier; and (b) gain-modulating means, optically coupled to the optical amplifier, for modulating the gain of the optical amplifier, said gain-modulating means comprising means for generating a second optical signal intensity-modulated at a second frequency and launching said second optical signal into said optical amplifier at an intensity sufficient to cause the optical amplifier to operate at least partially within its saturated gain region, thereby causing the gain of the optical amplifier to be modulated at said second frequency resulting in up/down conversion of said sub-carrier signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical mixer according to claim 1, wherein said optical amplifier comprises a semiconduction optical amplifier electrically biased by an electrical bias current modulated in correspondence with modulation of the second optical signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
154 words
A receiver for receiving a sub-carrier signal, of a first frequency, that has been intensity-modulated onto a first optical signal, comprising: (a) an optical mixer for up/down-converting the sub-carrier signal, said optical mixer comprising: (i) an optical amplifier; and (ii) gain-modulating means, optically coupled to the optical amplifier, for modulating the gain of the optical amplifier, said gain-modulating means comprising means for generating a second optical signal intensity modulated at a second frequency and launching it into the optical amplifier at an intensity sufficient to cause the optical amplifier to operate at least partially within its saturated gain region, thereby causing the gain of the optical amplifier to be modulated at said second frequency, and causing the optical amplifier to produce an output signal comprising frequency-shifted sub-carrier signals; (b) means for detecting at least one of the frequency-shifted sub-carrier signals; and (c) amplifying means, coupled to the detecting means, for amplifying the detected signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
A receiver for receiving a sub-carrier signal, of a first frequency, that has been intensity-modulated onto a first optical signal, comprising: (a) an optical mixer for up/down-converting the sub-carrier signal, said optical mixer comprising: (i) an optical amplifier; and (ii) gain-modulating means, optically coupled to the optical amplifier, for modulating the gain of the optical amplifier, said gain-modulating means comprising means for generating a second optical signal intensity modulated at a second frequency and launching it into the optical amplifier at an intensity sufficient to cause the optical amplifier to operate at least partially within its saturated gain region, thereby causing the gain of the optical amplifier to be modulated at said second frequency, and causing the optical amplifier to produce an output signal comprising frequency-shifted sub-carrier signals; (b) means for detecting at least one of the frequency-shifted sub-carrier signals; and (c) amplifying means, coupled to the detecting means, for amplifying the detected signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A receiver for receiving a sub-carrier signal that has been intensity-modulated onto a first optical signal as recited in claim 3, wherein the optical amplifier is a semiconductor optical amplifier electrically biased by an electrical bias current modulated in correspondence with modulation of the second optical signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for up/down-converting a sub-carrier signal, of a first frequency, that has been intensity-modulated onto a first optical signal, said method comprising the steps of: (a) launching said first intensity-modulated optical signal into an optical amplifier having a saturated gain region; (b) generating a second optical signal intensity-modulated at a second frequency; and (c) launching said second intensity-modulated optical signal into the optical amplifier at an intensity sufficient to cause the optical amplifier to operate at least partially within its saturated gain region, thereby causing the gain of the optical amplifier to be modulated at said second frequency, thus producing frequency-shifted sub-carrier signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for up/down-converting a sub-carrier signal, of a first frequency, that has been intensity-modulated onto a first optical signal, said method comprising the steps of: (a) launching said first intensity-modulated optical signal into an optical amplifier having a saturated gain region; (b) generating a second optical signal intensity-modulated at a second frequency; and (c) launching said second intensity-modulated optical signal into the optical amplifier at an intensity sufficient to cause the optical amplifier to operate at least partially within its saturated gain region, thereby causing the gain of the optical amplifier to be modulated at said second frequency, thus producing frequency-shifted sub-carrier signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising: electrically biasing said optical amplifier with a current modulated in correspondence with the modulation of the second intensity-modulated optical signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4364014A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-05 | 1995-11-04 | 1996-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-05 | 1999-11-04 | 2000-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-05 | 2003-11-04 | 2004-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |