Abstract: Optical systems, receivers, devices, and methods including a free space beam combining and polarization splitting prism to receive local oscillator light and optical signals in substantially parallel input paths that are in the same plane and output two orthogonally polarized beams in substantially parallel output paths that are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the input paths. Light in one of the incoming paths is reflected toward a combining surface that combines the local oscillator light and the optical signal. The combined beam then encounters a polarization splitting surface that splits the combined beam into two orthogonally polarized beams. One of the polarized beam may be reflected 90 degrees in plane and then both orthogonally polarized beams are reflected 90 degrees of out of plane to output each orthogonally polarized beam into substantially parallel optical output paths.

Abstract: Optical systems, devices, and methods are provided for determining various characteristics, such as quantity, movement, distance and speed/velocity of an object relative to the system. The system and method includes an optical transmitter to transmit an output optical signal carrying an electrical reference signal and an optical receiver to receive a reflection of the output optical signal. The receiver includes at least one local oscillator providing local oscillator light at a local oscillator frequency, at least one combiner to combine the reflection of the output optical signal with the local oscillator light into a coupled optical signal.

Abstract: Optical receivers including at least one local oscillator providing local oscillator light at a local oscillator center frequency offset from a received optical signal by a frequency difference. A combiner for combining the optical signal with the local oscillator light and to output at least one combined optical signal. An opto-electrical converter down-converts the combined optical signal into corresponding RF electrical signal at the frequency of the frequency difference. A filter may be provided to at least substantially remove one of the upper and lower electrical signal sidebands to output one of a VSB and SSB RF signal before rectification. A local oscillator frequency controller may adjustably control the local oscillator frequency to provide the difference frequency that produces a specified group delay in the RF electrical signal that may be specified via optical receiver performance parameters and/or user input and offset using a group delay filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems, devices, and methods for providing for a wide bandwidth optical receiver including amplification through optical beating from a local oscillator laser operating without a phase-locked loop at frequency near the receiver optical signal and decreasing the system-performances dependence on optical polarization alignment between the signal and the local oscillator. Systems, devices, and methods including a local oscillator providing a local oscillator signal having a local oscillator frequency that may be controlled based on a frequency offset from the signal center frequency through the use of monitoring signals representative of the frequency offset. A combiner/splitter couples the optical data signal with light from the local oscillator to provide first and second coupled optical signals with orthogonal polarization. Two opto-electrical converters for converting first and second coupled signals into first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: Optical receivers including at least one local oscillator providing local oscillator light at a local oscillator center frequency offset from a received optical signal by a frequency difference. A combiner for combining the optical signal with the local oscillator light and to output at least one combined optical signal. An opto-electrical converter down-converts the combined optical signal into corresponding RF electrical signal at the frequency of the frequency difference. A filter may be provided to at least substantially remove one of the upper and lower electrical signal sidebands to output one of a VSB and SSB RF signal before rectification. A local oscillator frequency controller may adjustably control the local oscillator frequency to provide the difference frequency that produces a specified group delay in the RF electrical signal that may be specified via optical receiver performance parameters and/or user input and offset using a group delay filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems, devices, and methods for providing for a wide bandwidth optical receiver including amplification through optical beating from a local oscillator laser operating without a phase-locked loop at frequency near the receiver optical signal and decreasing the system-performances dependence on optical polarization alignment between the signal and the local oscillator. Systems, devices, and methods including a local oscillator providing a local oscillator signal having a local oscillator frequency that may be controlled based on a frequency offset from the signal center frequency through the use of monitoring signals representative of the frequency offset. A combiner/splitter couples the optical data signal with light from the local oscillator to provide first and second coupled optical signals with orthogonal polarization. Two opto-electrical converters for converting first and second coupled signals into first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: Optical systems, devices, and methods are provided for determining various characteristics, such as quantity, movement, distance and speed/velocity of an object relative to the system. The system and method includes an optical transmitter to transmit an output optical signal carrying an electrical reference signal and an optical receiver to receive a reflection of the output optical signal. The receiver includes at least one local oscillator providing local oscillator light at a local oscillator frequency, at least one combiner to combine the reflection of the output optical signal with the local oscillator light into a coupled optical signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems, devices, and methods for providing for a wide bandwidth optical receiver including amplification through optical beating from a local oscillator laser operating without a phase-locked loop at frequency near the receiver optical signal and decreasing the system-performances dependence on optical polarization alignment between the signal and the local oscillator. Systems, devices, and methods including a local oscillator providing a local oscillator signal having a local oscillator frequency that may be controlled based on a frequency offset from the signal center frequency through the use of monitoring signals representative of the frequency offset. A combiner/splitter couples the optical data signal with light from the local oscillator to provide first and second coupled optical signals with orthogonal polarization. Two opto-electrical converters for converting first and second coupled signals into first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems, devices, and methods for providing for a wide bandwidth optical receiver including amplification through optical beating from a local oscillator laser operating without a phase-locked loop at frequency near the receiver optical signal and decreasing the system-performances dependence on optical polarization alignment between the signal and the local oscillator. Systems, devices, and methods including a local oscillator providing a local oscillator signal having a local oscillator frequency that may be controlled based on a frequency offset from the signal center frequency through the use of monitoring signals representative of the frequency offset. A combiner/splitter couples the optical data signal with light from the local oscillator to provide first and second coupled optical signals with orthogonal polarization. Two opto-electrical converters for converting first and second coupled signals into first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems, devices, and methods for providing for a wide bandwidth optical receiver including amplification through optical beating from a local oscillator laser operating without a phase-locked loop at frequency near the receiver optical signal and decreasing the system-performances dependence on optical polarization alignment between the signal and the local oscillator. Systems, devices, and methods including a local oscillator providing a local oscillator signal having a local oscillator frequency that may be controlled based on a frequency offset from the signal center frequency through the use of monitoring signals representative of the frequency offset. A combiner/splitter couples the optical data signal with light from the local oscillator to provide first and second coupled optical signals with orthogonal polarization. Two opto-electrical converters for converting first and second coupled signals into first and second electrical signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems, devices, and methods for providing for a wide bandwidth optical receiver including amplification through optical beating from a local oscillator laser operating without a phase-locked loop at frequency near the receiver optical signal and decreasing the system-performances dependence on optical polarization alignment between the signal and the local oscillator. Systems, devices, and methods including a local oscillator providing a local oscillator signal having a local oscillator frequency that may be controlled based on a frequency offset from the signal center frequency through the use of monitoring signals representative of the frequency offset. A combiner/splitter couples the optical data signal with light from the local oscillator to provide first and second coupled optical signals with orthogonal polarization. Two opto-electrical converters for converting first and second coupled signals into first and second electrical signals.