Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for optically modulating and transmitting source data. An optical comb comprising optical tones having a frequency spacing equal to ?f is generated by an optical comb generator. Selected ones of the optical tones in the optical comb are modulated according to the source data to produce a comb of modulated optical tones. At least one optical tone in the optical comb is frequency shifted by a frequency less than ?f to produce a frequency shifted unmodulated optical reference tone. The optical comb, the frequency shifted unmodulated optical reference tone and the comb of modulated tones are multiplexed onto at least one optical path.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a dynamic optical tag communication system is provided which includes high and low index CCR, both having a modulator, such as TCFP-MQWs on a first side of the CCR configured to modulate in a first temperature range, and a modulator on a second side of the CCR to modulate in a second temperature range. In some embodiments another high index CCR having corresponding first and second temperature range modulators is provided. In some embodiments, a CCR may have three modulators, such as MQWs, one configured to modulate in a first temperature range, another to modulate in a second temperature range, and yet another to modulate in a third temperature range. In some embodiments, a dynamic optical tag communication system has CCRs which include a high index CCR having a DDG modulator and a low index CCR having a DDG modulator.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method is provided for frequency tuning of a photonic oscillator. The method includes supplying an optical signal, for example laser light, which is modulated, delayed, and then converted to an electrical signal. The electrical signal is amplified, and used in modulating the optical signal. With this implementation, the frequency of the an output signal of the photonic oscillator is shifted by adjusting a bias voltage of the amplifier. In some implementations, shifting the frequency of the output signal further includes using a frequency lock loop circuit. In some implementations, shifting the frequency of an output signal of the photonic oscillator further comprises adjusting at least one of an phase shifter in series with the amplifier, an optical fiber stretcher, or a bias voltage of a second amplifier.

Abstract: An agile spread spectrum waveform generator comprises a photonic oscillator and an optical heterodyne synthesizer. The photonic oscillator comprises a multi-tone optical comb generator for generating a series of RF comb lines on an optical carrier. The optical heterodyne synthesizer includes first and second phase-locked lasers; the first laser feeding the multi-tone optical comb generator and the second laser comprising a rapidly wavelength-tunable single tone laser whose output light provides a frequency translation reference. A photodetector is provided for heterodyning the frequency translation reference with the optical output of the photonic oscillator to generate an agile spread spectrum waveform.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a dynamic optical tag communication system is provided which includes high and low index CCR, both having a modulator, such as TCFP-MQWs on a first side of the CCR configured to modulate in a first temperature range, and a modulator on a second side of the CCR to modulate in a second temperature range. In some embodiments another high index CCR having corresponding first and second temperature range modulators is provided. In some embodiments, a CCR may have three modulators, such as MQWs, one configured to modulate in a first temperature range, another to modulate in a second temperature range, and yet another to modulate in a third temperature range. In some embodiments, a dynamic optical tag communication system has CCRs which include a high index CCR having a DDG modulator and a low index CCR having a DDG modulator.

Abstract: A photonic oscillator includes an optical transceiver that serves the dual purpose of detecting a feedback RF lightwave signal carried on a laser beam and electrically filtering the RF lightwave signal to modulate the RF lightwave signal in accordance therewith, to thereby set up steady state oscillations in the modulated RF lightwave signal and thereby generate a multi-tone oscillating lightwave.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for converting optical wavelength division multiplexed channels to wireless channels, the information carrying optical carriers are first de-multiplexed and each optical carrier is then extracted from the data using an optical channelizing technique. The optical frequency of each of the extracted optical carriers is then shifted by an amount equal to the desired wireless carrier frequencies in the broadband wireless channels. Optical heterodyning of the frequency-shifted extracted lightwave carriers with the original data-containing optical signals, which are mutually in phase coherence, in a photodetector results in a set of wireless carriers each modulated with the data carried by the corresponding optical channel.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for converting optical wavelength division multiplexed channels to wireless channels, the information carrying optical carriers are first de-multiplexed and each optical carrier is then extracted from the data using an optical channelizing technique. The optical frequency of each of the extracted optical carriers is then shifted by an amount equal to the desired wireless carrier frequencies in the broadband wireless channels. Optical heterodyning of the frequency-shifted extracted lightwave carriers with the original data-containing optical signals, which are mutually in phase coherence, in a photodetector results in a set of wireless carriers each modulated with the data carried by the corresponding optical channel.

Abstract: A conformal retro-modulator optical apparatus. The apparatus includes an array of multiple quantum well devices disposed in a thin array. A plastic support element is bonded to the thin array, the plastic support element having a thickness greater that of the thin array. The plastic support element is preferably plastic at elevated temperatures above room temperature, thereby allowing the plastic support element and the thin array of multiple well device disposed therein to conform to a predetermined shape, yet being rigid at room temperature.

Abstract: In one implementation of the present invention, a method is provided for frequency tuning of a photonic oscillator. The method includes supplying an optical signal, for example laser light, which is modulated, delayed, and then converted to an electrical signal. The electrical signal is amplified, and used in modulating the optical signal. With this implementation, the frequency of the an output signal of the photonic oscillator is adjusted by adjusting a bias voltage of the amplifier. In some implementations, adjusting the frequency of the output signal further includes using a frequency lock loop circuit. In some implementations, adjusting the frequency of an output signal of the photonic oscillator further comprises adjusting at least one of an phase shifter in series with the amplifier, an optical fiber stretcher, or a bias voltage of a second amplifier. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic oscillator is provided including a laser and an optical modulator coupled to the laser.

Abstract: A conformal retro-modulator optical apparatus. The apparatus includes an array of multiple quantum well devices disposed in a thin array. A plastic support element is bonded to the thin array, the plastic support element having a thickness greater that of the thin array. The plastic support element is preferably plastic at elevated temperatures above room temperature, thereby allowing the plastic support element and the thin array of multiple well device disposed therein to conform to a predetermined shape, yet being rigid at room temperature.

Abstract: A waveform synthesizer comprising for synthesizing RF lightwave waveforms in the optical domain. These waveforms are constructed by generating their constituent Fourier frequency components or tones and then adjusting the amplitudes of those frequency components or tones. The apparatus includes: a RF-lightwave frequency-comb generator; and a multi-tone, frequency selective amplitude modulator coupled to the RF-lightwave frequency-comb generator for generating a continuous-wave comb comprising a set of RF tones amplitude modulated onto a lightwave carrier.

Abstract: In one implementation of the present invention, a method is provided for frequency tuning of a photonic oscillator. The method includes supplying an optical signal, for example laser light, which is modulated, delayed, and then converted to an electrical signal. The electrical signal is amplified, and used in modulating the optical signal. With this implementation, the frequency of the an output signal of the photonic oscillator is adjusted by adjusting a bias voltage of the amplifier. In some implementations, adjusting the frequency of the output signal further includes using a frequency lock loop circuit. In some implementations, adjusting the frequency of an output signal of the photonic oscillator further comprises adjusting at least one of an phase shifter in series with the amplifier, an optical fiber stretcher, or a bias voltage of a second amplifier. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic oscillator is provided including a laser and an optical modulator coupled to the laser.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an arbitrary UWB waveform are presented. An optical comb generator generates a serial stream of optical tones and an optical beating tone. A serial-to-parallel converter receives the serial tones and converts them into parallel optical tones. A spatial light modulator receives the parallel optical tones, and independently adjusts at least one of the phase and amplitude of each to generate the components of an arbitrary waveform. Next, each one of a plurality of optical-to-electrical converters receives a parallel optical tone and the selected optical beating tone, which are beat with the optical beating tone, producing electrical notes, representing differences between each parallel optical tones and the optical beating tone. Each antenna element is connected to receive an electrical note and to launch a signal based thereon, such that the launched signals are superimposed to the arbitrary waveform signal.

Abstract: A conformal retro-modulator optical apparatus. The apparatus includes an array of multiple quantum well devices disposed in a thin array. A plastic support element is bonded to the thin array, the plastic support element having a thickness greater that of the thin array. The plastic support element is preferably plastic at elevated temperatures above room temperature, thereby allowing the plastic support element and the thin array of multiple well device disposed therein to conform to a predetermined shape, yet being rigid at room temperature.

Abstract: A method for transferring of individual devices or circuit elements, fabricated on a semiconducting substrate, to a new substrate and placing said devices and elements in predetermined locations on the new substrate. The method comprises shaping the devices and circuits as truncated cones, lifting them off the original semiconducting substrates and depositing them en masse onto the new substrate, followed by their placing into receptors on the new substrate. The new substrate has preliminarily made receptors in a form of a truncated cone and the devices and circuits fill these receptors. Both the receptors and the devices and circuits have metallization contacts enabling to establish electrical contact between them. A method for real-time monitoring and verification of correctness of placement of the devices and circuits into the receptors by applying voltage pulse waveforms and measuring the resulting current pulse.

Abstract: A multi-tone photonic oscillator comprises a laser; an optical modulator coupled to the laser; and a delay line and a photodetector coupled to the optical modulator for generating a delayed electrical signal representation of the output of the optical modulator; wherein the optical modulator being responsible for the delayed electrical signal for generating multiple tones where the frequency intervals of the tones is a function of the amount of delay imposed by the delay line.

Abstract: In one implementation of the present invention, a method is provided for frequency tuning of a photonic oscillator. The method includes supplying an optical signal, for example laser light, which is modulated, delayed, and then converted to an electrical signal. The electrical signal is amplified, and used in modulating the optical signal. With this implementation, the frequency of the an output signal of the photonic oscillator is adjusted by adjusting a bias voltage of the amplifier. In some implementations, adjusting the frequency of the output signal further includes using a frequency lock loop circuit. In some implementations, adjusting the frequency of an output signal of the photonic oscillator further comprises adjusting at least one of an phase shifter in series with the amplifier, an optical fiber stretcher, or a bias voltage of a second amplifier. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic oscillator is provided including a laser and an optical modulator coupled to the laser.

Abstract: A spread spectrum waveform generator has a photonic oscillator and an optical heterodyne synthesizer. The photonic oscillator is a multi-tone optical comb generator for generating a series of RF comb lines on an optical carrier. The optical heterodyne synthesizer includes first and second phase-locked lasers, where the first laser feeds the multi-tone optical comb generator and the second laser is a single tone laser whose output light provides a frequency translation reference. At least one photodetector is provided for heterodyning the frequency translation reference with the optical output of the photonic oscillator to generate a spread spectrum waveform. A receiver pre-processor may be provided to operate on the spread spectrum waveform.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for optically modulating and transmitting source data. An optical comb comprising optical tones having a frequency spacing equal to &Dgr;f is generated by an optical comb generator. Selected ones of the optical tones in the optical comb are modulated according to the source data to produce a comb of modulated optical tones. At least one optical tone in the optical comb is frequency shifted by a frequency less than &Dgr;f to produce a frequency shifted unmodulated optical reference tone. The optical comb, the frequency shifted unmodulated optical reference tone and the comb of modulated tones are multiplexed onto at least one optical path.