Phase stable signal generator and signal distribution system
AssigneeORCA Computing Limited
InventorsFarzad Mokhtari-Koushyar, Thien-An Nguyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A signal generator provides a periodic optical signal as output. The signal generator can be optically coupled to a splitter or other distribution network that transits the optical signal along multiple paths to terminate at different locations and/or for use by multiple electronic circuits. Each path can include a reflector element that reflects a portion of the signal back along the optical signal path. Reflections can be separated by operation of a circulator and photodiode. Output of the photodiode can be used to adjust phase and/or amplitude of optical signals traversing each optical signal path such that each electronic circuit receives an in-phase reference signal as input.
Claims17
A self-calibrating reference signal distribution system comprising:
- a signal source configured to provide, as output, a periodic optical signal;
- a circulator configured to receive, as input, the periodic optical signal;
- a splitter configured to receive, as input, output of the circulator, the splitter comprising a plurality of optical paths, at least one optical path comprising a reflector configured to reflect at least a respective portion of the periodic optical signal back toward the circulator as a reflected signal;
- a photodiode optically coupled to the circulator and configured to receive as input the reflected signal;
- and
- a controller conductively coupled to the photodiode and configured to adjust at least one of a respective phase or a respective amplitude of each of the plurality of optical paths such that each respective portion of the periodic optical signal traversing each respective optical path is in phase.
A self-calibrating reference signal distribution system comprising:
- a signal source configured to provide, as output, a periodic optical signal;
- a circulator configured to receive, as input, the periodic optical signal;
- a splitter defining multiple optical paths, the splitter configured to receive as input output of the circulator, each optical path comprising:
- a respective reflector configured to reflect at least a portion of the periodic optical signal back toward the circulator as a respective reflected signal;
- and
- a respective phase shifter;
- a photodiode optically coupled to the circulator and configured to receive as input each respective reflected signal;
- and
- a controller conductively coupled to the photodiode and configured to adjust at least one respective phase shifter based on output of the photodiode such that the periodic optical signal is in phase at each termination of each optical path.
A method of operating a self-calibrating reference signal distribution system, the method comprising:
- providing a periodic optical signal as input to a circulator;
- receiving, by a splitter, output from the circulator, the splitter comprising a plurality of optical paths, each optical path of the plurality of optical paths comprising a reflector;
- receiving a reflection of the periodic optical signal resulting from operation of reflectors of the plurality of optical paths;
- determining phase errors from reflectors of the plurality of optical paths;
- and
- introducing, based on the phase errors, a phase delay within at least one of the plurality of optical paths such that portions of the periodic optical signal traversing the plurality of optical paths are in phase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.