Optical source with reduced relative intensity noise
AssigneeGeneral Instrument Corporation
InventorDavid R. Huber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for producing an optical carrier with low relative intensity noise. A portion of light output from a light source is sampled. An error signal representative of the relative intensity noise contained in the light output is generated. The error signal is subtracted from the light output from the light source to provide an optical carrier in which the relative intensity noise has been substantially reduced. The error signal can be subtracted using either an external optical intensity modulator or by converting the electrical signal to an optical signal and directly coupling it to the light output from the light source.
Claims16
Apparatus for producing an optical carrier with low relative intensity noise comprising:
- a light source;
- means for sampling a portion of light output from said light source;
- means for generating an error signal from said sampled portion, said error signal being representative of relative intensity noise contained in the light from said light source;
- and
- means for subtracting said error signal from light output from said light source to provide an optical carrier in which the relative intensity noise has been substantially reduced.
Apparatus for producing an optical carrier with low relative intensity noise comprising:
- a first light source for producing light at a first wavelength .lambda..sub.1 ;
- means for sampling a portion of the light output from said first light source and providing an electrical error signal therefrom, said error signal being representative of relative intensity noise contained in the light from said first light source;
- a second light source for producing light at a second wavelength .lambda..sub.2 and responsive to said error signal to provide an optical error signal equivalent to said electrical error signal;
- and
- means for combining said optical error signal with light output from said first light source to provide an optical carrier in which the relative intensity noise has been substantially reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.