Abstract: This invention discloses a method to control laser dynamics in a gain-switched fiber laser so as to generate stable, clean pulses in an all-fiber format. The gain-switched fiber laser is suitable as a standalone laser source, and as a pump source for harmonic generation and an optical-parametric-oscillator.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a base band digital data signal having a bit period and a first bandwidth, comprising providing a carrier wave having a carrier amplitude and a carrier frequency, and synchronously modulating both the carrier amplitude and carrier frequency with the base band digital signal, so as to reduce the bandwidth of the modulated carrier wave below the bandwidth of the base band signal. A method for transmitting a base band digital data signal having a bit period and a first bandwidth, comprising providing a carrier wave having a carrier phase and a carrier frequency, and synchronously modulating both the carrier phase and carrier frequency with the base band digital signal, so as to reduce the bandwidth of the modulated carrier wave below the bandwidth of the base band signal.

Abstract: An optical transmitter is disclosed wherein a signal processor receives a data stream and outputs a drive signal for a laser, where the drive signal encodes each bit of the data stream according to the values of adjacent bits effective to compensate for spreading of bits within the fiber. The output of the laser is input to an optical spectrum reshaper that outputs a signal having an enhanced extinction ratio.

Abstract: An optical system comprising a frequency modulated laser source adapted to produce a frequency modulated optical beam, an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to receive the frequency modulated optical beam from the laser source and convert it into an amplitude modulated optical beam, a focusing lens adapted to receive the amplitude modulated optical beam from the OSR and focus the same, and an optical fiber adapted to receive the amplitude modulated optical beam from the focusing lens and transmit an optical signal; characterized in that the OSR has a central axis, the focusing lens has a central axis, and the optical fiber has a central axis, with the central axis of the optical fiber being laterally offset from at least one of the central axis of the OSR and the central axis of the focusing lens so as to effect spatial filtering and thereby generate the desired optical transmission characteristics for the resulting optical signal in the optical fiber.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to an optical filter for a fiber optic communication system. A coupled multi-cavity optical filter may be used, following a directly modulated laser source, and converts a partially frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal. The optical filter may compensate for the dispersion in the fiber optic transmission medium and may also lock the wavelength of the laser source.

Abstract: This invention provides a system that combines a wavelength multiplexer with an FM discriminator for chirp reduction and wavelength locker in a filter to produce a wavelength division multiplexed signal with reduced chirp. A partially frequency modulation laser signal is converted into a substantially amplitude modulation laser signal. This conversion increases the extinction ratio of the input signal and further reduces the chirp. A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) method is used for transmitting high capacity information through fiber optics systems where digital information is carried on separate wavelengths through the same fiber. Separate transmitters normally generate their respective signals that are transmitted at different wavelengths. These signals are then combined using a wavelength multiplexer to transmit the high capacity information through the fiber optic system.

Abstract: A high-speed optical transmitter comprises multiple digital lanes that are provided to a bank of digital-to-analog converters. The analog signals are then used to Phase Shift Keyed (PSK) modulation using a Chirp Managed Laser (CML)-based transmitter, and potentially using dual polarization. A corresponding optical receiver receives the sequence of optical signals at a demodulator. For each polarization, the demodulator includes a corresponding demodulation channel that is configured to demodulate that polarization component of the optical signal into one or more signal components. Each of these signal components is converted into a corresponding digital signal using a corresponding analog-to-digital converter. In the case of higher-order PSK modulation (e.g., 8PSK or higher), for each polarization, the analog converter has a lower sampling rate than for QPSK modulation.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a signal and a fiber optic system comprising: a frequency modulated source; an optical transmission fiber positioned to receive the output of the frequency modulated source; an optical filter positioned to receive the output of the optical transmission fiber; and an optical receiver positioned to receive the output of the optical filter; characterized in that: an optical spectrum reshaper is positioned between the frequency modulated source and the optical transmission fiber; and wherein the optical filter is a narrow band pass filter relative to the bit rate of the transmitted signal; and further wherein the frequency excursion of the frequency modulated source is between 20% and 120% of the bit rate frequency.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to an optical filter for a fiber optic communication system. An optical filter may be used, following a directly modulated laser source, and converts a partially frequency modulated signal into a substantially amplitude modulated signal. The optical filter may compensate for the dispersion in the fiber optic transmission medium and may also lock the wavelength of the laser source.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system comprising: an optical signal source adapted to receive a binary base signal having a bit period T, and generate a first signal, wherein the first signal is frequency modulated; and an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to reshape the first signal into a second signal, wherein the second signal is amplitude modulated and frequency modulated; characterized in that: the optical signal source is a laser in which frequency modulation is generated by modulating the loss of the laser cavity. A method for transmitting a signal, comprising: receiving a binary base signal having a bit period T, and generating a first signal, wherein the first signal is frequency modulated; and reshaping the first signal into a second signal, wherein the second signal is amplitude modulated and frequency modulated; characterized in that: the first signal is frequency modulated by using a laser in which frequency modulation is generated by modulating the loss of the laser cavity.

Abstract: Use of depletion edge translation as an in cavity phase modulation mechanism in lasers. Aspects of the invention are especially relevant (without limitation) in transmitters for extended reach comprising an intra cavity phase and amplitude modulated laser for generation of a frequency modulated signal and a passive optical spectrum reshaper element, sometimes referred to as a chirp modulated laser. Such techniques may be carried out as disclose herein by adopting predetermined doping profiles and applying predetermined voltage to the laser cavity, and more preferably to a phase section in or adjoining the laser cavity.

Abstract: An wave division multiplexed (WDM) optical transmitter is disclosed including a directly modulated laser array and a planar lightwave chip (PLC) having a plurality of OSRs that receive outputs of the laser array and increase the extinction ratio of the received light. An optical multiplexer receives the outputs of the OSRs and couples them to a single output port. The multiplexer has transmission peaks through its ports each having a 0.5 dB bandwidth including the frequency of a laser in the array. The optical multiplexer may be embodied as cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers or ring resonators.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system is disclosed having an optical signal source adapted to produce an amplitude and frequency modulated signal encoding binary data wherein high intensity 1 bits are red shifted relative to lower intensity 0 bits. The amplitude and frequency modulated signal is transmitted through a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), which may operate in saturation. An optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) is adapted to reshape the output of the SOA.

Abstract: A DBR laser, such as a semiconductor DBR laser is disclosed having improved frequency modulation performance. The laser includes a split gain electrode and a tuning electrode. A modulating current encoding a data signal is injected into a first section of the gain electrode whereas a substantially DC bias voltage is imposed on a second section of the gain electrode positioned between the first gain electrode and the tuning electrode. The first and second gain electrodes are electrically isolated from each other and the tuning electrode by a large isolation resistance. In some embodiments, the isolation resistance is generated by forming the electrodes on a P+ layer and removing portions of the P+ layer between adjacent electrodes. Capacitors may couple to one or both of the second gain electrode and the tuning electrode.

Abstract: A Distributed Feed-Back (DFB) laser integrated with an Electroabsorption (EA) modulator whose facet at the end of EA modulator section has finite reflectively to create adiabatic chirp by optical feedback to the DFB laser.

Abstract: An optical communication system which has an optical signal source adapted to receive a base binary signal and produce a first signal, said first signal being frequency modulated; and an optical spectrum reshaper adapted to reshape the first signal into a second signal, said second signal being amplitude modulated and frequency modulated in which the frequency characteristics of said first signal, and the optical characteristics of said optical spectrum reshaper, being such that the frequency characteristics of said second signal are configured so as to increase the tolerance of the second signal to dispersion in a transmission fiber.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system comprising: an optical signal source adapted to receive a binary base signal having a bit period T, and generate a first signal, wherein the first signal is frequency modulated; and an optical spectrum reshaper (OSR) adapted to reshape the first signal into a second signal, wherein the second signal is amplitude modulated and frequency modulated; characterized in that: the frequency excursion of the first signal is adjusted such that the frequency excursion is substantially equal to the ratio of the bit period of the digital base signal to total dispersion of the transmission fiber, whereby to increase the tolerance of the second signal to dispersion in a transmission fiber.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system, comprising: an optical signal source adapted to produce a frequency modulated signal; and an optical spectrum reshaper adapted to receive the frequency modulated signal and output a substantially amplitude modulated signal; wherein the optical spectrum reshaper limits the bandwidth of the frequency modulated signal.

Abstract: An optical transmitter is disclosed wherein a directly modulated laser outputs a frequency modulated signal through a semiconductor optical amplifier. Both the optical transmitter and semiconductor amplifier are modulated according to an output of a digital data source. An optical filter is positioned to receive an output of the semiconductor optical amplifier and has a frequency dependent transmission function effective to convert the amplified signal into a filtered signal having enhanced amplitude modulation. In some embodiments, the semiconductor optical amplifier is coupled to the digital data source by means of a compensation circuit configured to high-pass filter the output of the digital signal source. In other embodiments, the semiconductor optical amplifier is coupled to the digital data source by means of a compensation circuit configured to produce an output including a first-order time derivative of the output of the digital signal source.

Abstract: A fiber optic communication system for receiving an electronic digital data signal and transmitting the same, comprising an optical signal source adapted to receive the digital data signal and to produce a frequency modulated optical signal from a directly modulated semiconductor laser; an optical spectrum reshaper adapted to convert the frequency modulated optical signal into an amplitude modulated optical signal; and compensation apparatus for compensating for the adverse effects of the thermal chirp normally induced in the frequency modulated optical signal by modulating the semiconductor laser with the electronic digital data signal.