Abstract: Analog transport of a wideband RF signal is effectively and efficiently provided using a coherent, narrowband optical carrier. The wideband RF signal is phase modulated onto the carrier at a first location. Non-coherent discrimination is applied to the modulated carrier at a second, different location to generate an amplitude modulated optical signal where the amplitude modulation represents the original wideband RF signal. A photo-detector is then used to regenerate a representation of the original wideband RF signal. The method and apparatus of the invention can be applied in systems dedicated to the analog RF transport or in wavelength division multiplexed systems which also provide transport for other analog or digital data.

Abstract: Improved laser sensors (10) employing doped laser crystals (24) for transducing output proportional to forces impinging upon the sensors. The disclosed sensors are compact, low powered and may be constructed relatively inexpensively from readily available materials. The disclosed sensors eliminate the need for costly, optical power-sapping fiber connections at the laser crystals. According to certain embodiments, the disclosed sensors are configured for local recovery of output signals using conventional digital telemetry. According to other embodiments, the sensors generate output through a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) laser (28), thereby allowing remote recovery without the need for frequency division multiplexing and issues involved with preloading the sensors to produce beat frequencies in unique bands.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system for time synchronizing data from various sensor types that enables data fusion and transport. To provide this capability, the present invention utilizes an inverted Passive Optical Network (PON) approach for synchronous communication. Further, the present invention introduces an inverted Passive Electrical Network (iPEN) that extends the iPON approach. Data that are in a common format with embedded time synchronization information can easily be integrated or fused and transported over such communication links. The present invention provides the ability to merge and aggregate data from a wide range of disparate sensors and systems while maintaining close synchronization. The present invention is appropriate for synchronization of data, voice, and video onto a single network and/or multi-tiered networks and can also handle signal processing and control technologies at line rates well into the Gigabits per second (Gbps) range.

Abstract: Improved laser sensors (10) employing doped laser crystals (24) for transducing output proportional to forces impinging upon the sensors. The disclosed sensors are compact, low powered and may be constructed relatively inexpensively from readily available materials. The disclosed sensors eliminate the need for costly, optical power-sapping fiber connections at the laser crystals. According to certain embodiments, the disclosed sensors are configured for local recovery of output signals using conventional digital telemetry. According to other embodiments, the sensors generate output through a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) laser (28), thereby allowing remote recovery without the need for frequency division multiplexing and issues involved with preloading the sensors to produce beat frequencies in unique bands.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, method and system for time synchronizing data from various sensor types that enables data fusion and transport. To provide this capability, the present invention utilizes an inverted Passive Optical Network (PON) approach for synchronous communication. Further, the present invention introduces an inverted Passive Electrical Network (iPEN) that extends the iPON approach. Data that are in a common format with embedded time synchronization information can easily be integrated or fused and transported over such communication links. The present invention provides the ability to merge and aggregate data from a wide range of disparate sensors and systems while maintaining close synchronization. The present invention is appropriate for synchronization of data, voice, and video onto a single network and/or multi-tiered networks and can also handle signal processing and control technologies at line rates well into the Gigabits per second (Gbps) range.