Intensity Modulation Patents (Class 398/186)
  • Patent number: 7369780
    Abstract: The present invention provides a remodulating channel selector for a wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system. The remodulating selector receives a WDM input signal, selects a particular optical channel from the WDM signal and places the information from the selected signal onto a newly-generated optical output signal. The wavelength of the output optical signal can be the same as or different from one of the optical channels which comprises the WDM input signal. When used in a WDM optical communication system with remodulators at the transmission input, the remodulating selectors provide complete control over the interfaces with optical transmitters and receivers, permitting use with a broad range of optical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Alexander, Steve W. Chaddick, Roy C. Litz, Cecil D. Smith
  • Patent number: 7366424
    Abstract: Apparatus for creating a communication signal, comprising a modulator adapted to: modulate a first and a second beam of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation with a source signal, assemble modulated portions of the first and second beams into a first electromagnetic radiation signal of interposed regular and alternate data bit sequences comprising asserted non return to zero coded data bits, each of the data bit sequences being interposed by unasserted data bits, in which mutually adjacent asserted data bits are conjoined, and assemble modulated portions of the first and second beams into a second electromagnetic radiation signal of interposed regular and alternate data bar bit sequences comprising asserted non return to zero coded data bar bits representing the unasserted data bits, each of the data bar bit sequences being interposed by unasserted data bar bits representing the asserted data bits, in which mutually adjacent asserted data bar bits are conjoined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Gill, Steven K. Korotky
  • Patent number: 7362978
    Abstract: Disclosed is a duobinary optical transmission apparatus. The duobinary optical transmission apparatus uses the crossed phase characteristics of a duobinary signal without using a feedback-type precoder and an electric LPF, and is thereby not affected by Pseudo-Random Bit Sequence (PRBS), and is very resistant to wavelength division characteristics. In addition to a drive amplifier, a Mach-Zehnder-interferometer-type optical intensity modulator (MZ MOD), and a laser source for generating a carrier wave, the duobinary optical transmission apparatus further includes a toggle flip-flop (T.FF) and an AND gate to separate a group of ‘1’ from input data signal in such a way that the input data signal is modulated to make each signal have a different phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Kee Kim, Han-Lim Lee, Yun-Je Oh, Seong-Taek Hwang
  • Publication number: 20080080872
    Abstract: A signal Data1 and Data2 are output from a DQPSK signal source. The output signal is input to the modulator drivers 1 and 2 of the differential output. A drive signal is applied from the drivers 1 and 2 to a modulator, and modulated light is output. An optical coupler 20 branches modulator output, and a power monitor 21 detects the power of the branched light. A detection result is transmitted to an amplitude control unit 22. The amplitude control unit 22 adjusts the amplitude of the drivers 1 and 2 such that the detection result of the power monitor 21 can be the maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshiki Tanaka, Takeshi Hoshida, Hisao Nakashima, Yuichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7352968
    Abstract: There is provided a fiber optic system comprising: a multi-wavelength source adapted to generate frequency modulated signals having different wavelengths, ?1, ?2, . . . , ?n; and an arrayed waveguide grating adapted to convert the multiplicity of frequency modulated signals into a multiplicity of substantially amplitude modulated signals, and spatially combine the different wavelengths ?1, ?2, . . . , ?n. And there is provided a method for transmitting an optical signal through a fiber comprising: operating a multi-wavelength source so as to generate frequency modulated signals having different wavelengths, ?1, ?2, . . . , ?n; passing the frequency modulated signals through an arrayed waveguide grating so as to convert the frequency modulated signals into substantially amplitude modulated signals, and spatially combine the different wavelengths ?1, ?2, . . . , ?n; and passing the substantially amplitude modulated signals into the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Parviz Tayebati, Daniel Mahgerefteh, Kevin McCallion
  • Patent number: 7330664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to none return to zero (NRZ) modulation method. The NRZ optical modulation is performed by combining a clock signal and NRZ data at a sending end and signal distortion capable of being generated when the clock signal and the NRZ data are combined is optimized by controlling the magnitude and phase of the clock signal. At the receiving end, the clock signal is extracted by performing narrow band band-pass filtering of the detected optical signal transmitted from a transmitter and data is recovered using the clock signal. Therefore, a receiver structure for clock extraction is simpler, an error rate of data recovery is lower by clearly extracting the clock signal, and transmission distance of the optical signal is longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Wangjoo Lee, Hyunwoo Cho, Ki Ho Han, Je Soo Ko
  • Publication number: 20080031630
    Abstract: An optical SSB-SC modulation section 13 subjects an optical signal fa outputted from an optical source 11 to an optical SSB-SC modulation based on the amplitude of an external electric signal fc to thereby output an optical intensity-modulated signal. An optical phase modulation section 14 subjects the optical signal fa to an optical phase modulation based on the amplitude levels of the first to nth external electric signals having frequencies f1 to fn to thereby output the resultant signal as an optical phase-modulated signal. An optical combining section 15 combines together the optical intensity-modulated signal and the optical phase-modulated signal. An optical detecting section 16 performs an optical homodyne detection through a squared detection of the optical intensity-modulated signal and the optical phase-modulated signal combined together to thereby produce a wideband modulated signal, being the difference beat signal between the two optical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ohira, Kouichi Masuda, Masaru Fuse
  • Patent number: 7324760
    Abstract: An optical RZ transmitter comprises an optical signal source and a pair of electro-optical modulators in tandem, one arranged to receive a NRZ electrical data signal and the other a clock signal at the data rate of the data signal. The phase difference between the data signal and the clock signal is controlled by adding a first dither signal to a bias signal applied to the modulator receiving the data signal, and a second dither signal, having a different frequency, to the phase difference. The amplitude of variations in the power of the optical output signal corresponding to cross-modulation of the first and second dither signals is detected and the phase difference is controlled in response to the detected amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Siegfried Gronbach, Stefan Weisser
  • Patent number: 7324761
    Abstract: Described are an optical transmitter and a method for generating a single sideband optical signal. The method includes generating a data signal at a first power level and at a second power level with a predetermined ratio being defined between the power levels. The data signal at the first power level is applied to a phase module disposed in a laser cavity of a semiconductor laser to generate a frequency modulated laser signal having a double sideband. The intensity of the frequency modulated laser signal is modulated in response to the data signal at the second power level to yield the single sideband optical signal. Optical transmitters implementing the method have an increased manufacturing yield and reliability, a lower fabrication cost and a decreased size compared to other optical single sideband optical transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Peter A. Schulz, Paula J. Donovan, Scott Henion
  • Patent number: 7313326
    Abstract: The power of a digital signal such as an optical data stream is set via digital-to-analog converter having a reference input for connection to a DC reference signal. The pilot tone is injected into the reference input of the digital-to-analog converter. In the place of a dual amplitude control (modulation current and pilot tone), the disclosed arrangement only requires a single control, thereby reducing cost, power consumption, microcontroller input/output activity, area occupation (PCB real estate) and failure rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP ( Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: Mauro Cerisola
  • Patent number: 7302190
    Abstract: In an optical transmitting or receiving apparatus, a plurality of replaceable electro-optic converters or a plurality of replaceable opto-electric converters are provided in correspondence with optical transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Nec Corporation
    Inventors: Masataka Goto, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 7302191
    Abstract: An optical transmitter includes a continuous wave optical source for generating an optical signal having a carrier frequency component, a clock modulator for performing a clock modulation upon the optical signal using a clock signal to generate a clock-modulated signal, and a data modulator for performing a data modulation upon the clock-modulated signal using a data signal. The clock signal has a half frequency of that of the data signal. The clock modulator is constructed by a single-end type phase modulator and at least one tap type optical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Risato Ohhira
  • Patent number: 7292792
    Abstract: A method for transmitting digital data includes splitting a coherent optical carrier having a subcarrier into mutually coherent optical carriers, producing corresponding sequences of phase shifts in each of the mutually coherent optical carriers, and then, interfering the mutually coherent optical carriers. The interfering produces an output optical carrier whose subcarrier has modulated inphase and quadrature components with a corresponding sequence of pairs of values. The pairs of values of the modulated inphase and quadrature phase components produced by the interfering correspond to a sequence of coordinate pairs for the signal points the 4-PSK 2D, 16-QAM 2D, or 16-PSK 2D constellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Kai Chen, Andreas Leven
  • Patent number: 7280767
    Abstract: An optical duobinary transmitter. The transmitter uses a half-rate precoder, half-rate non-linear modulation drive circuits and a multiplex modulator for generating duobinary modulation on an optical signal from which full-rate data can be detected without decoding. The intensity of the optical signal is modulated to be zero between data symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: StrataLight Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Keangpo Ricky Ho, Ross Alexander Saunders
  • Patent number: 7275878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to controlling parameters of an optical output of an optical transmitter. An optical package can be selected based on a level of attenuation of a parameter of a transmitter output by the optical package. The laser and the optical package can be assembled and a parameter of the transmitter output can be measured. An optical barrel can be selected based on the measurement, wherein the optical barrel is selected based on an attenuation level to satisfy a range of a desired parameter value. The optical package and the optical barrel can be assembled. A system for assembling the optical device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Landry, Norman Brent Stapleton, James K. Guenter, Jimmy A. Tatum
  • Patent number: 7269358
    Abstract: An optical transmitter for an optical fiber transmission system is described. The optical transmitter includes an optical source that generates an optical signal having a wavelength at an output. An optical intensity modulator modulates the optical signal with an electrical modulation signal to generate a modulated optical signal at an output. At least one parameter of the optical intensity modulator is chosen to suppress at least one of phase and sideband information in the modulated optical signal. An optical fiber is coupled to the output of the optical intensity modulator. The suppression of the at least one of the phase and the sideband information in the modulated optical signal increases an effective modal bandwidth of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Optium Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hallemeier, Mark Colyar, Eitan Gertal, Heider Ereifej
  • Patent number: 7263287
    Abstract: An apparatus for accelerating assessment of an optical transmission system using Bit Error Rate (BER) tests calculates Q-factors for at least two different extinction ratios from measured test BER values, and extrapolates to determine a Q-factor for an operational extinction ratio, whereby the operational BER value for the operational extinction ratio can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu Xu
  • Patent number: 7257332
    Abstract: An optical transmitter comprises an amplitude modulation unit performing amplitude modulation of only a one-side amplitude of a main signal with a low-frequency signal having a predetermined frequency. An optical modulator receives an input signal generated after the one-side amplitude modulation, and modulates an incoming light in response to the received signal in accordance with a predetermined modulation-characteristic curve to output an optical output signal. An operating point control unit applies a predetermined bias voltage to the optical modulator to control a level of the input signal substantially applied to the modulation-characteristic curve so that the one-side amplitude of the main signal is applied to a minimum portion of the modulation-characteristic curve of the optical modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shihori Imai, legal representative, Toru Yamazaki, Kakuji Inoue, Setsuo Misaizu, Yasunori Nagakubo, Keisuke Imai, deceased
  • Patent number: 7257331
    Abstract: An emitter of optical signals for optical fibers includes an electroabsorption modulator downstream of a laser and a Mach-Zhender modulator downstream of the electroabsorption modulator and controlled by at least one clock to eliminate for each pulse of the resulting signal from the first modulator a portion of signal in a time range including the rising edge and in a time range including the falling edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Georges Grandpierre, Roland Uhel
  • Patent number: 7257329
    Abstract: A duobinary optical communication system is disclosed that employs pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) techniques to provide further improvements in spectral efficiency. A disclosed PAM duobinary optical transmitter converts a plurality of input bits to an N level signal using PAM techniques; adds a current N level signal to a previous N level signal to produce a 2N?1 level signal; and converts the 2N?1 level signal to an optical signal for transmission to a receiver. A disclosed PAM duobinary optical receiver detects a power level of the received optical signal (encoded using pulse amplitude modulation and duobinary encoding techniques to encode a plurality of bits) and maps the detected power level to a plurality of bits to return the transmitted information. An exemplary PAM-4 duobinary optical communication system combines PAM-4 modulation techniques with duobinary pulse shaping techniques to provide an overall factor of four improvement in spectral efficiency by reducing the bandwidth of the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kameran Azadet, Fadi Ryad Olivier Saibi
  • Patent number: 7248800
    Abstract: An optical receiver includes a first light receiving element to convert an optical signal to an electric signal and to output the electric signal from one end. A light receiving element row is connected to the other end of the first light receiving element to supply electric power to the first light receiving element. The light receiving element row includes a plurality of second light receiving elements connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimada, Asako Ikeda, Shigeyuki Sakura
  • Patent number: 7239814
    Abstract: A first peak hold circuit holds a peak potential of a positive phase voltage signal output from a differential output amplifier, and a second peak hold circuit holds a peak potential of a negative phase voltage signal output from the differential output amplifier. An adding circuit adds an output signal of the first peak hold circuit and an output signal of the second peak hold circuit. A differential input amplifier amplifies and outputs a voltage difference between a reference voltage and an addition result voltage signal of the adding circuit. A current output circuit outputs a DC current based on an output voltage of the differential input amplifier. A current switch circuit converts a DC current to a pulse current so as to supply the pulse current to a laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tokio Miyasita
  • Patent number: 7224907
    Abstract: A duobinary optical transmission apparatus is provided to generate duobinary optical signals, without using an electric low-pass-filter (LPF), by restricting a bandwidth of a Mach-Zehnder-interferometer-type optical intensity modulator (MZ MOD). Alternatively, a LPF having a single pole with a single capacitor is implemented instead of an expensive LPF, thereby providing a simple transmitter with a lower production cost in comparison with a transmitter using a conventional electric LPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Lim Lee, Ji-Chai Jeong, Yong-Hoon Kim, Yun-Je Oh, Seong-Taek Hwang
  • Patent number: 7215892
    Abstract: Disclosed is a duobinary optical transmitter, which includes a laser source for outputting light with a predetermined wavelength; a Mach-Zehnder interferometer-type optical intensity modulator for modulating the intensity of the light according to a three-level data signal inputted through a modulation terminal; a low-pass filter for converting an inputted two-level binary data signal into a three-level data signal through an interference among codes; and, a modulator driver/amplifier for amplifying the three-level data signal and then outputting it to the modulation terminal, wherein the overall bandwidth of the low-pass filter, the modulator driver/amplifier, and the optical intensity modulator corresponds to approximately ¼ of the clock frequency of the two-level binary data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Lim Lee, Seong-Taek Hwang, Hee-Won Cheung, Yun-Je Oh, Ji-Chai Jeong, Byung-Chang Kang
  • Patent number: 7212747
    Abstract: A light emitting section outputs an optical signal having an intensity corresponding to a transmission timing signal, the optical signal modulated based on a radio transmission signal. A received photocurrent detection section detects an intensity of an optical signal received by a light receiving section. In accordance with the detected intensity, a high frequency amplification section amplifies the output signal of the light receiving section, and a transmission timing signal reconstruction section reconstructs the transmission timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Niiho, Hiroyuki Sasai, Kouichi Masuda, Kenji Miyanaga
  • Patent number: 7209660
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes a receiver subsystem with at least two heterodyne receivers. The receiver subsystem receives a composite optical signal having two or more subbands of information and corresponding tones. An optical splitter splits the composite optical signal into optical signals. Each optical signal includes a subband(s) and corresponding tone. Each heterodyne receiver receives an optical signal. The receiver includes a heterodyne detector coupled to a signal extractor. The heterodyne detector mixes the optical signal with an optical local oscillator to produce an electrical signal which includes a frequency down-shifted version of the subband and the tone of the optical signal. The signal extractor mixes the frequency down-shifted subband with the frequency down-shifted tone to produce a frequency component containing the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Forster Energy LLC
    Inventors: Ting K Yee, Peter H Chang
  • Patent number: 7206519
    Abstract: Disclosed is a duobinary optical transmission apparatus. The duobinary optical transmission apparatusenhances nonlinear and dispersion characteristics for an intermediate-long distance transmission at a high-speed transfer rate without the use an electric LPF. The duobinary optical transmission apparatus includes a light source for generating a carrier wave, a duobinary optical signal generator for receiving a Non Return to Zero (NRZ) signal and generating a modulated optical signal generated by modulating the carrier wave according to the NRZ signal, and a Return to Zero (RZ) signal generator for converting the NRZ signal into a RZ (Return to Zero) signal. Therefore, optical intensity and a phase are modulated using only a single interferometer-type optical modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Lim Lee, Gyu-Woong Lee, Seong-Taek Hwang, Byung-Chang Kang
  • Patent number: 7206520
    Abstract: An optical carrier notch filter includes an optical coupler with at least first, second and third ports. The first port is configured to receive an output that includes an optical carrier and interleaved optical single sideband signals. An optical bandpass filter is coupled to a port of the optical coupler. The optical bandpass filter separates the output into a transmitted signal that contains the optical carrier, and a reflected signal that includes the interleaved optical single sideband signals. The reflected signal is reflected from the optical bandpass filter to the third port of the optical coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: OpVista Incorporated
    Inventors: Winston Way, Ming Chia Wu, Ming-Bing Chen
  • Patent number: 7200343
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a drive control apparatus and a drive control method with a simple configuration, which can also reliably compensate for operating point fluctuations of an optical modulator driven in accordance with a drive signal corresponding to a clock signal. To this end, the drive control apparatus of the present invention is configured to supply, to an optical modulator of which the optical output characteristics with respect to drive voltage are changed periodically, a drive signal having a waveform corresponding to a clock signal, and the amplitude of which is set to around 2V?, detect the power of an optical signal output from the optical modulator, and control an operating point of the optical modulator so that an average value of the optical signal power becomes a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tadashi Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 7200344
    Abstract: A method and system for transmitting information in a wavelength division multiplex (WDM) or other suitable multichannel optical communication system includes receiving a multichannel signal having a symbol rate and comprising a plurality of non-intensity modulated optical information signals. The non-intensity modulated optical information signals have a minimum channel spacing comprising a multiple of the symbol rate within 0.4 to 0.6 of an integer. The non-intensity modulated optical information signals are separated from the multichannel signal and each converted into an intensity modulated optical information signal using an asymmetric interferometer. A data signal is recovered from the intensity modulated optical information signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takeshi Hoshida
  • Patent number: 7194211
    Abstract: Optical transmitter/receivers for use in a DWDM systems are provided. Transmission of data signals in a quadrature-return-to-zero (QRZ) format achieves a data transmission rate equal to eight times a base data rate, i.e., 80 Gbps over a 100 GHz channel if the base data rate is 10 Gbps, with high non-linear performance by setting the polarization state of the data bands such that non-linear effects induced by PMD are reduced. Additionally, a transmitter achieves a transmission data rate equal to 16 times the base data rate by sharpening the QRZ pulses and interleaving pulse-sharpened QRZ data signals in the time domain, further doubling the data rate. Using counterpropagation in the transmitter, carrier signals and data signals traverse the same length of fiber, reducing fringing effects in the transmitter. Related techniques enhance reception and detection of data at high data rates. A local pulse-sharpened carrier is mixed with a QRZ data signal at a detector reducing amplification noise by a factor of two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Teradvance Communications LLC
    Inventors: Marcel F. C. Schemmann, Zoran Maricevic, Bogdan Hoanca
  • Patent number: 7158723
    Abstract: Channels in an optical WDM network are each identified by at least two dither tones with which the channel is modulated, the dither tones alternating with a predetermined periodicity so that at any instant each channel is modulated by only one dither tone. The dither tones are continuously generated at precise frequencies. Channel detection by detecting the dither tones, for channels having optical powers over a wide dynamic range, makes use of an FFT process which can detect dither tones for high power channels in a single operation. Coherent averaging of FFT results over time is used to detect dither tones for low power channels over multiple FFT operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Tropic Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Wai Wan, Derrick Remedios, Dongxing Jin, Patrick Chilufya Chimfwembe
  • Patent number: 7155131
    Abstract: The invention relates to optical communication devices, light emission devices and optical communication methods. Aspects of the present invention provide methods and devices enable provision of modulated output optical signals without providing modulation of total photon populations of cavities of associated lasers. Such avoids or minimizes bandwidth restrictions associated with conventional methods or devices which modulate total photon populations within cavities of lasers. One aspect of the invention includes an optical communication method including providing a data signal comprising data to be communicated and emitting light using a laser. The method further includes modulating the laser across a lasing mode transition responsive to the data signal. The emitting further includes emitting the light during a plurality of lasing modes of the laser to communicate the data responsive to the modulating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Simon, Scott Corzine
  • Patent number: 7155122
    Abstract: Channels in an optical WDM network are each identified by at least two dither tones with which the channel is modulated, the dither tones alternating with a predetermined periodicity so that at any instant each channel is modulated by only one dither tone. The dither tones are continuously generated at precise frequencies. Channel detection by detecting the dither tones, for channels having optical powers over a wide dynamic range, makes use of an FFT process which can detect dither tones for high power channels in a single operation. Coherent averaging of FFT results over time is used to detect dither tones for low power channels over multiple FFT operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Tropic Networks Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Wai Wan, Derrick Remedios, Dongxing Jin, Patrick Chilufya Chimfwembe
  • Patent number: 7149432
    Abstract: Optical equalization across N (an integer, N>1) channels of a multi-channel link of a communications network, is accomplished by averaging effects of optical performance variations within each of the M (an integer, M>1) parallel data signals. At a transmitting end node of the link, each one of the M data signals are distributed across the N channels of the link. Thus a substantially equal portion of each data signal is conveyed through the link in each one of the N channels. At a receiving end node of the link, respective bit-streams received over the N channels to are processed recover the M data signals. As a result, bit error rates of the bit-streams received through each channel are averaged across the M data signals, all of which therefore have a substantially equal aggregate bit error rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Roland A. Smith, Kim B. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7146109
    Abstract: An optically modulated signal is generated for use in transporting data by generating a so-called sub-carrier modulated optical signal and, then, vector modulating the sub-carrier modulated optical signal to yield the desired modulated optical signal for transmission. The vector modulation includes a phase component and an amplitude component. In one specific embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for use in generating a modulated optical signal includes a generator to generate a sub-carrier modulated optical signal including an optical carrier and at least one sub-carrier and an analog vector modulator coupled to receive both the sub-carrier modulated optical signal from the generator and a data signal. The analog vector modulator generates an output optical signal by phase modulating and/or amplitude modulating the sub-carrier of the received optical signal in response to the data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Kai Chen, Andreas Leven
  • Patent number: 7136595
    Abstract: An optical transmitter-receiver is provided which is suitable for a high-speed optical communication system. A high-frequency electric line on a mounting substrate becomes a traveling-wave electrode of a semiconductor optical element equivalently by the following steps: separately manufacturing the mounting substrate having the high-frequency electric line, and the semiconductor optical element for which high-frequency design has been applied beforehand; and then bonding and mounting of drive electrodes of the mounting substrate and the semiconductor optical element through a soldering material. In addition, it is also possible to have a configuration in which not only junction down mounting of high-frequency semiconductor optical elements, but also that of an electronic element for electrically driving and controlling a light source such as a semiconductor laser and for electrically driving and controlling a high-frequency semiconductor optical element, is performed on the mounting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Aoki, Junji Shigeta
  • Patent number: 7127182
    Abstract: A transmitter for optical communication systems includes a source of optical radiation, a source of complex non-information signals, and a modulator unit in communication with the source of optical radiation. The modulator unit is also in communication with the source of complex non-information signals. The modulator has an input adapted to receive information-bearing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Broadband Royalty Corp.
    Inventors: Paul J. Matthews, Paul D. Biernacki, Sandeep T. Vohra
  • Patent number: 7116916
    Abstract: A pulse width of a pulse having a nominal pulse width is modulated in accordance with a digital value to be communicated. The number of clock cycles that the modulated pulse width exceeds the nominal pulse width is counted. Various embodiments use a counter to determine the extent that the modulated pulse exceeds the nominal pulse width. The counter is initialized to a value (P) upon detection of a first edge of the extended pulse. The counter is configured to rollover or is reset when the counter reaches a count of P+M, where M represents the nominal pulse width count. In various embodiments, P is zero. The counter is halted upon detection of a second edge of the extended pulse. The resulting count represents the digital data value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert A. Cochran, David E. Oseto
  • Patent number: 7110681
    Abstract: Binary information is subjected to RZ encoding and multi-level encoding, and the encoded signal is optically modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Mizuochi
  • Patent number: 7106976
    Abstract: This invention provides an optical transmitter in which reduced power consumption is achieved by, when a signal generator needs data transmission, driving a laser emitting device to perform emission. An optical transmitter includes a receiver, a laser driving circuit, a light emitting unit constituted by a plurality of laser emitting devices, and an EDID memory. The receiver and the laser driving circuit are supplied with power from a dedicated external power supply through a power-supply line, and the power-supply line is provided with a switch. The contact of the switch is controlled to open and close based on a power-supply voltage supplied from the DDC controller to the EDID memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsugio Ide, Shojiro Kitamura, Teruyasu Hama
  • Patent number: 7103286
    Abstract: The influences on transmission quality caused by chirp and self-phase modulation are at least largely corrected by way of an optimally set operating point of the modulator (2). Suitable criteria are obtained in control loops in order to maintain the optimal setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ullrich Wünsche, Walter Pröbster
  • Patent number: 7103285
    Abstract: An optical transmitter enables output of high-power light signals while effectively suppressing occurrence of the nonlinear optical phenomena, particularly, SBS, and an optical communication system provided therewith. The optical transmitter comprises a modulation signal source for outputting modulation signals of the frequency not more than 20 kHz, a semiconductor laser source for outputting laser light amplitude-modulated according to the modulation signals from the modulation signal source, an optical amplifier for amplifying the laser light from the semiconductor laser source, and a modulation depth control system for controlling a ratio of an amplitude modulation depth of amplified laser light outputted from the optical amplifier to an amplitude modulation depth of the laser light outputted from the semiconductor laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Okuno
  • Patent number: 7099596
    Abstract: A high-speed optical transmitter having an optical modulator and a driver circuit while maintaining optical modulator performance. The high-speed optical transmitter comprises the optical modulator which modulates and outputs an input light in accordance with an applied voltage, and a driver circuit which outputs the applied voltage into the optical modulator and has an emitter follower circuit at an output stage thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Watanabe, Ryoji Takeyari, Masataka Shirai
  • Patent number: 7099592
    Abstract: A card for transmitting data over at least one optical fiber includes a transmitter having at least one light source and a phase modulator for phase modulating light from the source so as to create phase-modulated optical signals in the light as a function of an input electronic data stream; and a receiver having an interferometer for reading received optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Oyster Optics, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Snawerdt
  • Patent number: 7092641
    Abstract: A system that transmits amplitude modulated data in a wavelength-encoded format and then uses a wavelength-sensitive receiver to convert the received optical signal back to the original amplitude modulated data. This system enables transmission of optical signals that are less sensitive to attenuation and attenuation changes. This system is applicable to data in digital, multilevel, or analog formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Lisa A. Windover
  • Patent number: 7092643
    Abstract: The optical transmission apparatus has a Mach-Zehnder optical modulator, a light source for applying an optical signal of a continuous light to the optical modulator, a driving circuit for inputting a driving signal into the optical modulator, a branching filter for taking out a part of an output optical signal, a photodiode for converting the taken-out output optical signal into an electric signal, a band pass filter for extracting a frequency component of a driving signal included in this electric signal, an error signal generator circuit for generating an error signal of a bias voltage that minimizes a value of the extracted frequency component, and a bias voltage control circuit for applying a bias voltage added with this error signal to the optical modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Kajiya, Kazuyuki Ishida, Katsuhiro Shimizu, Yukio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7092639
    Abstract: A transmitter comprises an oscillator, a phase lock loop, a serializer, and an electrical-to-optical converter. The oscillator is enclosed in a metal shield. The metal shield is soldered to a ground ring of the printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the oscillator is voltage-controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Schultz, Joshua Oen
  • Patent number: 7085499
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Yap, Keyvan Sayyah
  • Patent number: RE39785
    Abstract: In an optical transmission system, a multiplexer frequency-division-multiplexes a plurality of signals, and outputs the resultant signal to an FM modulator. The FM modulator converts the frequency-division-multiplexed signal into an FM modulated signal through frequency modulation using the frequency-division-multiplexed signal as an original signal. A frequency-divider converts the FM modulated signal into a frequency-divided FM modulated signal whose frequency is ½n (n is an integer of not less than 1) the frequency of the FM modulated signal. An optical modulator has a predetermined input-voltage vs. output-optical-power characteristic, and is biased at the minimum point (voltage) about the output optical power. The optical modulator modulates an unmodulated light fed from a light source with the applied frequency-divided FM modulated signal to produce an optical signal whose optical carrier component is suppressed, and sends the optical signal to an optical transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Fuse