Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering a clock and data from a data signal. One method of the invention includes receiving the data signal having a first data rate, receiving the clock signal having a first clock frequency, alternating between a first level and a second level, wherein the first data rate is twice the first clock frequency. A first signal is generated by passing the data signal when the clock signal is at the first level, and storing the data signal when the clock signal is at the second level. A second signal is generated by passing the data signal when the clock signal is at the second level, and storing the data signal when the clock signal is at the first level. A third signal is generated by passing the first signal when the clock signal is at the second level, and storing the first signal when the clock signal is at the first level.

Abstract: An all-optical 3R regenerator (AO3R) and a method for using the AO3R to retime, reshape and retransmit an optical signal are described herein. The AO3R includes a polarizer that receives an input optical signal which is of unknown, potentially varying phase and outputs a stable polarized input optical signal. The AO3R also includes a first interferometer (e.g., interferometric converter module) that retimes and reshapes the polarized input optical signal and transmits the retimed and reshaped polarized input optical signal as a polarized output optical signal. The first interferometer is able to retime the polarized input optical signal with the aid of a laser and a clock recovery mechanism.

Abstract: A method and system for generating both return-to-zero (RZ) and carrier suppressed return-to-zero (CSRZ) shaped signals using only a single optical modulator. The system includes: a switch for receiving a data signal and a clock signal as inputs, and outputting a voltage signal; a unit for controllably adjusting the phase of said clock signal before input to the switch; an optical modulator for receiving a continuous wave light (CW) signal and the voltage signal as inputs, and outputting one of an RZ and a CSRZ signal. To generate a CSRZ signal, the optical modulator is biased at a transmission minimum level signal. To generate an RZ signal, the optical modulator is biased at a transmission maximum level and the clock signal is phase shifted. Also disclosed is an optical communication transceiver including a plurality of optical modulator circuits generating both RZ and CSRZ signals.

Abstract: A synchronized optical clocking signal is provided to a plurality of optical receivers by providing a layer of a high absorption coefficient material, such as SiGe or Ge, on a front surface of a low absorption coefficient substrate, such as silicon. Diodes are formed in the germanium containing layer for receiving an optical signal and converting the optical signal into an electrical signal. An optical clocking signal is shined on the back surface of the silicon substrate. The light has a wavelength long enough so that it penetrates through the silicon substrate to the germanium containing layer. The wavelength is short enough so that the light is absorbed in the germanium containing layer and converted to the electrical clocking signal used for neighboring devices and circuits. The germanium concentration is graded so that minority carriers are quickly swept across junctions of the diodes and collected.

Abstract: For regenerating a binary optical signal (sd, sE2) a monolithic semiconductor component (100) comprises: a saturable absorber structure (3) having a saturable absorber section (31), a first optical waveguide (1, 11 to 16) defining a first guide axis (X) disposed on either side of the section (31), a second optical waveguide (2, 21 to 24) defining a second guide axis (Y) crossing the first axis (X) in the section (31) and disposed on either side of the section (31). The saturable absorber structure has a dimension along the first guide axis greater than its dimension along the second guide axis. The first and second waveguides respectively inject an optical clock signal (c1) and the binary optical signal (sd, sE2). Application to optical transmission systems for regenerating signals in accordance with two different regeneration regimes.

Abstract: A re-generator of an optical clock signal has at least a mode-locked semiconductor laser outputting a re-generated optical clock signal from at least one end face of the mode-locked semiconductor laser, with inputted light signals having different polarized wave states respectively at both end faces of the mode-locked semiconductor laser; wherein the re-generator has a light splitter to split the light signal into two kinds of elements with respective polarized waves different by a right angle, and to emit one of the elements split from the light signal, to one of both end faces of the mode-locked semiconductor laser; and a rotator to input the other elements split from the light signal, to rotate the other elements by a right angle, and to lead the rotated element to the other end face of the mode-locked semiconductor laser.

Abstract: A bit rate control apparatus having a delay unit for delaying an input signal received in an optical receiver in an optoelectrically-converted state; a DC level outputting unit for exclusively OR'ing the input signal with the delayed signal outputted from the delay unit; an A/D converting unit for A/D converting a DC level outputted from the DC level outputting unit; a clock/data reproducing unit for reproducing clocks and data based on a bit rate control signal; and a control unit for calculating a variation in the DC level at every interruption timing, which is previously set, based on the A/D converted signal, and for determining whether the DC level variation occurs under the influence of temperature or due to a variation in bit rate based on a difference between the calculated DC level variation from a predetermined variation limit.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical transmission with a demultiplexer for demultiplexing an input optical signal into optical signals of different channels and a multiplexer for multiplexing the optical signals outputted from the demultiplexer.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating a clock signal over an optical link includes receiving a multimodulated optical information signal including non-intensity modulation for a data signal and intensity modulation for a clock signal. The clock signal is recovered based on the intensity modulation of the multimodulated optical information signal. The non-intensity modulation for the data signal is converted to intensity modulation for the data signal. The data signal is recovered from the intensity modulation for the data signal using the clock signal.

Abstract: A system and method for frame detection and generation. Each incoming clock-data stream is divided into two independent data streams: a clock path which preserves the timing of the individual cock domains and a data path which multiplexes an arbitrary number of data streams onto a parallel path. A framer array structure implements a context swap and synchronizes the data streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to wavelength division multiplex fiber optic transmission systems. It proposes a regenerator including a demultiplexer for separating the signals of various channels, a plurality of optical modulators each receiving signals from the demultiplexer and a modulation clock from a clock distribution unit, and a multiplexer combining the signals modulated by the modulators. The clock distribution unit includes a reference clock and, for each modulator, means for synchronizing the phase of a copy of the reference clock with the signals applied to the modulator. A phase-locked loop can be used for phase synchronization, with a phase shifter controlled in accordance with the average power of the signals at the output of the modulator. The invention enables only low-frequency components to be used to generate modulation clocks from a single reference clock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing optical 3R regeneration involving: 1) generating an encoded optical clock signal from at least an optical signal; 2) introducing the encoded clock signal into a delay interference section of a regenerator such that an amplitude modulated clock signal is produced; andoutputting the amplitude modulated clock signal wherein the output amplitude modulated clock signal preserves information present within the input optical signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bit-rate-independent optical receiver including: a bit rate sensing unit for optoelectrically converting an input optical signal, while outputting a bit rate sensing signal; a variation sensing unit for outputting a bit rate variation sensing signal; a temperature sensing unit for sensing an internal temperature and outputting a temperature sensing signal; a signal reproducing unit for reproducing data and clocks, and in response to a clock correction signal, reproducing the data and clocks based on the clock correction signal; and, a control unit for calculating the bit rate based on the voltage level of the bit rate sensing signal in response to receiving the variation sensing signal, and compensating the calculated bit rate for errors resulting from a variation in temperature, and outputting a clock correction signal indicative of the temperature-compensated bit rate to the signal reproducing unit.

Abstract: An optical transmission system for compensating for transmission loss includes a transmitting apparatus for serializing a plurality of n (n is a natural number)-bit channel data received from the outside in response to a predetermined clock signal, converting the serialized channel data and the predetermined clock signal into a current signal whose magnitude changes corresponding to an error detection signal, and outputting optical signals having optical output power corresponding to the magnitude of the current signal, a first optical fiber for transmitting the optical signals, a receiving apparatus for recovering the n-bit channel data and the predetermined clock signal from the optical signals received through the first optical fiber, detecting transmission loss generated when the optical signals are transmitted and received, optically converting the transmission loss, and outputting the optically converted transmission loss as the error detection signal, and a second optical fiber for transmitting the opt

Abstract: The invention provides a PLL circuit wherein, even if the duty ratio of an input signal varies, stabilized PLL operation is achieved. The PLL circuit includes a phase detection circuit and a frequency detection circuit. The frequency detection circuit includes a pair of D-type flip-flops for sampling first and second clock signals having different phases from each other in synchronism with an input signal at each rising or falling changing point of the input signal for each period, and a control logic circuit for logically operating the signals sampled by the D-type flip-flops and the signals sampled successively subsequently by the D-type flip-flops. The control logic circuit generates an UP pulse signal or a DOWN pulse signal based on a result of the arithmetic operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering a clock and data from a data signal. One method of the invention includes receiving the data signal having a first data rate and receiving a clock signal having a first clock frequency, and alternating between a first level and a second level. The data signal is stored when the clock signal alternates from the first level to the second level, and the stored data signal is provided as a first signal a first amount of time later. The first signal is stored when the clock signal alternates from the first level to the second level, and the stored first signal is provided as a second signal a second amount of time later. A third signal is provided by delaying the first signal for a third amount of time. The third signal is stored when the clock signal alternates from the second level to the first level, and the stored third signal is provided as a fourth signal a fourth amount of time later. A fifth signal is provided by delaying the data signal a fifth amount of time.

Abstract: A self-healing bit rate transducer in an optical transmission system includes a demultiplexer for demultiplexing optical signals into different wavelength channels; bit rate receivers for converting the demultiplexed optical signals into the corresponding electrical signals, for generating a bit-rate error signal, and for generating a temperature reference signal; a detecting section for generating a signal indicative of the bit rate of the optical signals outputted from the demultiplexer; and a controller for comparing the detected bit rate with a predetermined data to generate a control signal that is used to adjust the bit rate of the respective bit rate receiver.

Abstract: A synchronization system in accordance with the principles of the invention includes a central synchronizing management unit, at least one synchronization distribution unit, and at least one network element. Each synchronization distribution unit receives synchronization and management information from the central synchronization management unit. This information may be transmitted directly from the central synchronization management unit, or it may be transmitted though another synchronization distribution unit in a group of a daisy-chained synchronization distribution units. The daisy-chained arrangement employs both active and passive optical paths. The central synchronizing management unit may query any synchronization distribution unit within the system to obtain performance statistics.

Abstract: A clock regeneration circuit having a PLL circuit which includes a voltage control oscillator; a clock extraction circuit which includes a band passing filter and a harmonic component of a dividing signal of the oscillation frequency signal; a frequency detector; a filter; a bit rate detection circuit; and a frequency selection circuit outputting an oscillation frequency of the voltage control oscillator of the PLL circuit or a frequency signal obtained by dividing the oscillation frequency in response to the bit rate detected by the bit rate detection circuit, as a regeneration clock circuit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering a clock and data from a data signal. One method of the invention includes receiving the data signal having a first data rate, receiving the clock signal having a first clock frequency, alternating between a first level and a second level, wherein the first data rate is twice the first clock frequency. A first signal is generated by passing the data signal when the clock signal is at the first level, and storing the data signal when the clock signal is at the second level. A second signal is generated by passing the data signal when the clock signal is at the second level, and storing the data signal when the clock signal is at the first level. A third signal is generated by passing the first signal when the clock signal is at the second level, and storing the first signal when the clock signal is at the first level.

Abstract: An optical signal quality monitoring apparatus includes an optical coupler for performing a coupling operation for an input optical signal, a first photodetector (PD) for converting the input optical signal into an electrical signal, a clock decision recovery (CDR) unit for detecting a clock from the electrical signal and recovering data on the basis of the detected clock, and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a second PD for receiving an output optical signal from the optical coupler and converting it into an electrical signal, an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal to a predetermined level and inverting the amplified signal, an adder for adding the amplified/inverted signal to a recovered data signal from the CDR unit to obtain a difference there between, a band pass filter for band pass filtering an output signal from the adder, and a radio-frequency power detector for measuring radio-frequency power from an output signal from the band pass filter.

Abstract: A delayed interference all-optical wavelength converter is arranged to convert and reshape a pulsed input signal Pin at &lgr;1 into the wavelength converted signal Pconv at &lgr;2, where &lgr;1 and &lgr;2 are different. A delayed interference all-optical wavelength regenerator is similar, but is arranged to reshape a pulsed input signal Pin into the wavelength converted signal Pconv, where the wavelengths of the input signal and the converted signal are the same. The converter/regenerator comprises an input-signal coupling unit for receiving the pulsed input signal and supplying it to one input of a modulation section, the other input to which is a carrier signal Pcw. The output of the modulation section Pint, which is generally speaking, a phase modulated signal which may also have an amplitude modulated component, is applied to a delay interference section arranged to transform Pint into a primarily amplitude-modulated signal.

Abstract: A cross-connect device in an optical network which includes a demultiplexer for demultiplexing an input optical signal by channels; a plurality of arbitrary transmission optical receivers for converting the optical channel signals received from the demultiplexer to electrical signals and for recovering a clock signal and data according to a reference clock signal generated at the transmission rate of the electrical signals; a cross-connect switch for path-routing the electrical signals received from the arbitrary transmission optical receivers; a controller for controlling the path-routing of the cross-connect switch; a plurality of arbitrary transmission optical transmitters for converting the electrical signal received from each output port of the cross-connect switch to an optical signal; and, a multiplexer for multiplexing the optical signals received from the arbitrary transmission optical transmitters onto one stand of optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a clock extraction apparatus and method for an optical signal. The clock extraction apparatus includes optical branching means, optical filtering means, and clock extraction means. The optical branching means branches an optical signal, which has been transmitted from a transmitting end to a receiving end, into a plurality of optical signals to be transmitted to a plurality of paths. The optical filtering means simultaneously reflects the center wavelength and a specific side peak wavelength of the optical signal, which has been transmitted to a first path of the plurality of paths, to the optical branching means, the specific side peak wavelength being spaced apart from the center wavelength by a clock frequency. The clock extraction means extracts a clock by detecting and bandpass filtering the beating signal from the center wavelength and the specific side peak wavelength reflected to the optical branching means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a robust solution to the task of re-aligning data at the transmit end of a fiber optic or other high performance serial link, and also offers flexibility in the circuit board design approach. A high performance analog phase locked-loop circuit is used to simultaneously provide clock recovery for multiple bit streams. The power dissipation required to perform clock recovery is thereby reduced to a fraction of that required in conventional transmit systems. This analog phase locked loop produces plural phase output signals. An output multiplexer selects one phase for use in electrical to optical conversion.

Abstract: An increase in the code error rate in a received signal is detected in a light receiver. An loss of signal detector circuit for a light receiver 20 comprises a main discrimination circuit 8a for comparing the intensity of an electric signal obtained by converting a light signal by photoelectric conversion using a photoelectric conversion element 1 with a predetermined discrimination threshold; a reference discrimination circuit (8b, 8c, . . . ) for comparing the intensity of the electric signal with regard to a reference threshold which differs from the discrimination threshold; and an operation circuit 9 for detecting loss of the signal based on the results of the comparisons performed by the main discrimination circuit 8a and the reference discrimination circuit (8b, 8c, . . . ).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating a clock signal of exact phase from an optical input signal that is divided up optically into two channels, one for data extraction to generate an electrical data signal and one for clock extraction to generate an electrical first clock signal, so that the phase position of the first clock signal is corrected by comparison with the phase position of the data signal so that the phase position of the resulting clock signal formed after this correction is similar to the phase position of the data signal, and also a digital optical receiver therefor.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering clock pulses of wavelength division multiplexed optical signals passed therethrough. The apparatus comprises an optically-pumped laser cavity defining a cavity length and comprising a nonlinear medium pumped at a wavelength selected to give efficient parametric amplification within said medium. The cavity length corresponds to an integer multiple of bit periods of at least one of the multiplexed optical signals. The optical signals copropagate through the medium with the pump radiation. The apparatus further comprises an optical path for recirculating a proportion of the output from the laser cavity back through the laser cavity. In this way, idler waves are generated symmetrically about the pump wavelength by four wave mixing with the at least one of the multiplexed optical signals and recirculated through the laser cavity to be amplified by parametric amplification in order to recover wavelength division multiplexed clock pulses.

Abstract: In a high bit rate optical communications system, a clock signal is recovered from a received optical data signal by comparison of the data signal with an optical pulse stream derived from a local oscillator running at a sub-multiple of the signal bit rate. The oscillator forms part of a phase locked loop, and the signal comparison is made via a two photon absorber element which responds to a combination of the photon energies of the data signal and the locally generated pulse signal. The oscillator output is then used as a local clock for de-multiplexing purposes.

Abstract: There is provided a PLO device which performs high-accuracy, high-quality clock recovery. A shifted data generation part generates shifted data, and a first phase comparison part outputs first difference data. A first filter removes an alternating-current component from the first difference data and outputs a first detection voltage. A delay part delays input data for a time corresponding to half of one time slot with the use of an analog delay element and outputs delayed data. A second phase comparison part compares the phases of the input data and delayed data with each other and outputs second difference data. A second filter removes an alternating-current component from the second difference data and outputs a second detection voltage. An arithmetic section divides the first detection voltage by the second detection voltage to obtain a control voltage. A clock oscillation section outputs recovered clock based on the control voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for regenerating optical signals by intensity modulation and phase modulation of the optical signals, said device including: a mode locking laser for recovering a clock signal representing the clock of the bits of the optical signals to be regenerated, and a modulation interferometer structure having a first interferometer arm and a second interferometer arm, enabling amplitude modulation and phase modulation of optical signals by said clock signal, and including a semiconductor amplifier in the first interferometer arm. The mode locking laser is coupled to said first interferometer arm so that said amplifier of the first interferometer arm is a common component of the mode locking laser and said interferometer structure.

Abstract: Representative embodiments are directed to systems and methods that recover a clock from optical NRZ data. A first photodetector and a second photodetector are connected in series across complementary power supplies. The first photodetector is illuminated with the optical NRZ data. The second photodetector is illuminated with a delayed version of the optical NRZ data. A resistor may provide a path from a node between the photodetectors to ground. By utilizing the delayed version to illuminate the second photodetector, current is only conducted through the resistor when a data transition occurs. Furthermore, suitable rectifying structure may be employed to combine positive and negative pulses to form an output signal. The output signal possesses a spectral component at the frequency of the clock. I The output signal may be filtered to recover the clock associated with the received NRZ data.

Abstract: A WDM optical transmission system in which a retiming unit disposed at the front stage of the optical signal supplying unit of an optical transceiver is provided. The pulse width distortion of an optical signal generated in optical transmission through an optical fiber between two WDM optical transmission apparatus is corrected by the retiming unit after the optical signal has been demultiplexed and converted into an electrical signal.

Abstract: An optical clock multiplier comprises a phase modulator (12) to shift a phase in pulse duration of an input optical clock pulse by &pgr;, a polarization mode dispersion device (16) having a predetermined time difference between first and second polarizations orthogonal to each other to divide an output light from the phase modulator into the first and second polarization components, and a polarization device (20) to extract one of polarization components in a third polarization practically inclined at an angle of 45° against the first polarization and a fourth polarization orthogonal to the third polarization out of the output light from the polarization mode dispersion device.

Abstract: A circuit for monitoring an optical signal level provided in an optical receiver includes a clock extraction circuit, a noise detection circuit, and an alarm circuit. The clock extraction circuit extracts a clock from an input signal. The noise detection circuit multiplies the clock, utilizes the multiplied clock to identify surge noises included in the input signal, and outputs noise pulses. The alarm circuit counts the noise pulses and outputs an alarm signal when the number of the pulses counted within a certain period reaches a preset value. The surge noise is a noise having a level which is relatively increased as the input signal level is lowered.

Abstract: Circuitry for a node of an optical communication network is configured to mux (i.e., combine) one or more incoming customer signals for transmission as a single outgoing optical signal and to demux (i.e., split) an incoming optical signal into one or more outgoing customer signals, where the muxing and demuxing clocks are selected from one or more customer clocks recovered from the one or more customer signals, an input clock recovered from the incoming optical signal, and a local clock generated by a local clock generator. When configured for an add/drop configuration, the circuitry selects (1) the muxing clock from the one or more customer clocks, the input clock, and the local clock and (2) the demuxing clock from the input clock and the local clock. When configured for a drop/continue configuration, the circuitry is configured to select both the muxing and demuxing clocks from either the first input clock or the local clock.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical signal processing device which can give stable temporal order to the modulation-phases of a plurality of optical signals. The optical signal processing device includes an optical demultiplexer and an optical multiplexer for adaptation to WDM (wavelength division multiplexing). The optical demultiplexer has an input port and a plurality of output ports. The input port is adapted to accept WDM signal light obtained by wavelength division multiplexing a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths. The optical multiplexer has an output port and a plurality of input ports. The plural output ports of the optical demultiplexer and the plural input ports of the optical multiplexer are connected by a plurality of optical paths, respectively. Each optical path is provided with a delay adjuster.

Abstract: An optical signal regeneration device having an interferometric structure with two arms. Each of the arms has a medium, the optical power output of which is variable with the optical power input. The first arm receives, through an input coupler, a continuous wave and the signal to be regenerated. The second arm receives through the input coupler, a continuous wave signal and a clock signal. A filter, centered on the continuous wave wavelength, receives the output signal of the interferometric structure through the coupler. The filter output signal constitutes the regenerated 3R signal.

Abstract: In a light transmission equipment which can generate a desired concatenation signal from a maximum concatenation signal standardized in a synchronous transmission mode, a master and a slave circuit for clock change are provided respectively inputting at least two data at a maximum transmission rate based on a concatenation standard of a synchronous transmission mode obtained by dividing a desired transmission rate not prescribed in the concatenation standard to perform a concatenation control to the slave circuit by control information from the master circuit side.

Abstract: This invention uses fiber characteristics combined with knowledge of the 8b10b code to discover and compensate for skew between parallel data streams, caused by chromatic dispersion, in a WDM system allowing the receiver to recover both the data and timing of the data streams as they were originally launched. This skew discovery and compensation does not require the insertion or deletion of any control symbols to/from the original 8b10b streams, and does not require the use of a training or sample sequence.

Abstract: A device and method for quantifying the amount of jitter experienced by an optical data pulse. During transmission data pulses may suffer jitter. Their arrival time at a node may be temporally offset from its predicted arrival time. Data pulses are timed so that they may be received at a detector disposed downstream of said node at a predetermined time. The device includes an optical AND gate, which has a first input arranged to receive a chirped pulse having a duration T, and whose wavelength varies in a monotonically over the duration of the pulse, the node having a second input arranged to receive a second data pulse. The node includes an optical gate arranged to generate an output pulse in response to the chirped pulse and the data pulse received at the first and second inputs, respectively, having a wavelength dependent upon the time at which the data pulse is received at the second input.

Abstract: A method of reducing interference in a data stream includes filtering the data stream using a first equalizer to output a first filtered data stream. Also, the data stream is filtered using a second equalizer to create a second filtered data stream. Then, one or more error rates based on the first filtered data stream and the second filtered data stream are determined. Based at least in part on those error rates, a filtered data stream is selected from among the first filtered data stream and the second filtered data stream. A threshold value is determined, and then compared against the selected filtered data stream to generate a data bit.

Abstract: An optical receiver arrangement comprises a phase locked loop incorporating a voltage controlled oscillator whereby the loop can be matched in frequency to a received signal frequency. A frequency detector associated with the loop produces an output comprising first or second pulses indicative of whether the loop frequency is above or below the received signal frequency. A control circuit determines a time averaged measure of difference between the loop frequency and the received signal frequency, and issues a loss of lock alarm if this averaged difference exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A SONET framer with multiple clock-crossing capability for use in an optical cross-connect system. The input stage of the cross-connect includes a framer ASIC that performs both frame alignment of multiple data streams and retimes them with a system clock at a same frequency. The ASIC processes multiple clocks from PLL's and retimes the data with the system clock at the same frequency. The present invention nests the clock crossing function in the frame alignment function in order to align all the incoming data streams with the system clock. Advantages include reduced chip area and reduced power consumption.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical clock recovery using optical filters with fixed reflective wavelengths is provided. In the apparatus, a first filter receives an optical signal and extracts one out of two spectral lines corresponding to two side peaks that are second in magnitude to a peak and exist at both sides of a peak on the spectrum of the received optical signal. A second filter extracts a spectral line corresponding the largest peak on the spectrum of the received optical signal. An attenuator equalizes the power levels of the two spectral lines extracted by the first and second filters. A beating generation unit receives signals corresponding to the two equalized spectral lines and generates beating between the equalized spectral lines, thereby recovering a clock component.

Abstract: An optical transmission line allows optical signals to be transmitted with higher stability over longer distances. According to a first aspect, an optical NRZ signal is split in two, one half is presented to a clock extraction circuit, and the other half is presented to an EA modulator. An optical RZ signal is obtained as an output because the EA modulator is energized by the provided clock component. According to a second aspect, a nonlinear phase shift based on cross-phase modulation is induced in an RZ pulse train by an optical NRZ signal, and only the RZ pulses corresponding to the optical NRZ signal are extracted. According to a third aspect, first dispersion compensator is provided to a preceding stage of an optical fiber transmission line for transmitting optical pulses, and second dispersion compensation compensator is provided to a subsequent stage. Pulse widening in the optical fiber transmission line is controlled by a nonlinear chirp induced in the first dispersion compensator.

Abstract: An electro-optic interface structure for use in a multi-protocol OEO WDM network, the interface structure comprising a rate multiplying encoding unit for applying a rate multiplying line code to an electrical transmit data signal prior to conversion of the electrical transmit data signal into an optical WDM channel signal, and a rate dividing decoding unit for applying a corresponding rate dividing line code to an electrical receive data signal converted from a received optical WDM channel signal, wherein the encoding unit is arranged such that, in use, the same rate multiplying line code can be applied to electrical transmit data signals of different protocols, and wherein the decoding unit is arranged such that, in use, the application of the same corresponding rate dividing line code can create electrical signals of different protocols.

Abstract: An embodiment includes an optical source, an optical receiver, and an interconnecting optical fiber. A data sequence is received and encoded or formatted as an IP packet using an encoding format capable of returning a signal representing the IP packet to a predetermined value at the beginning of each bit period of the IP packet at a physical layer of the network. The encoded IP packet is then transmitted directly over an optical layer of the network without adapting the IP packet to another encoding format or using an adaptation layer in the network (e.g., at a data link layer or higher). The optical receiver receives the IP packet and then a clock signal is extracted without the overhead and costs associated with additional adaptation or encoding of the IP packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for all-optical signal regeneration in fiber optic communications networks is provided. The process utilizes solitary wave interactions in various nonlinear optical media to re-shape, re-amplify and re-time optical signals that have traveled over large distances of fiber-optic cable. The device consists of an optical clock generator synchronized to the system clock, recovered from the input signal by a clock recovery unit. The output of the optical clock is then used to produce a solitary wave in the nonlinear material that collides with the coincident signal beam. The net result is an all-optical signal regenerator. A multi-channel device capable of providing signal regeneration on multiple wavelengths using a single clock recovery and optical clock generator assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: All-optical timing extraction and optical clock recovery for high-speed return-to-zero binary optical data streams using the timing difference between clock and data counter-propagating optical pulses in a non-linear optical waveguide where the first pulse to arrive at the non-linear optical waveguide partially saturates the transmission properties of the waveguide resulting in a change of the transmission properties seen by the lagging pulse. A balanced photo-detector makes delay-dependent comparisons of the clock and data pulses' peak power and generates an error signal used in a phase-locked loop configuration to synchronize the clock to the data stream.