Opto-electronic interferometic logic

Abstract

In this invention, an optical beam is multiplexed with two independently generated electrical pulse signals applied simultaneously to an interferometer having at least two branches to perform electrical-to-optical operations, such as logic, encryption or multiplexing operations. A Y junction interferometer which is coupled to receive a CW or periodic occurring optical beam has at least one set of individually addressable contacts. A first pair of individually addressable contacts is coupled to receive a first independently generated electrical pulse signal of a given frequency and amplitude, and a second pair of individually addressable contacts coupled to the same or another branch of the Y is coupled to receive a second independently generated electrical pulse signal of a given frequency and amplitude which is other than substantially identical to and other than substantially in-phase inverse with the first signal. The output optical signal is a signal representative of optical pulses of the logic, encryption or multiplexing operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.