Photonic heterodyning having an image component separator
OwnerJohn N. Haitinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A means and method of photonic heterodyning wherein at least one photonic beam set having fundamental frequencies to be heterodyned is used to produce a dynamic interference image that is projected onto an image component separator. Energy from selected portions of the dynamic image is separated into at least one output. Energy components within the dynamic image move relative to the separating locations as determined by the fundamental input frequencies. This causes intermodulation of the input signals and the development of energy at the sideband frequencies in the output(s). Special Interference is also used to provide amplified photonic heterodyning.
Claims6
A method of photonic heterodyning comprising the following steps:
- providing at least one input beam set of photonic energy having first and second fundamental frequencies to be heterodyned;
- producing dynamic interference using energy of said at least one input beam set, and
- separating sideband energy from at least one location within said dynamic interference to provide at least one photonic output, said sideband energy being produced by movement of energy components within said dynamic interference relative to said at least one location.
A photonic mixer comprising:
- an input beam set of photonic energy having first and second fundamental frequencies to be heterodyned, said input beam set being positioned and oriented so as to produce a dynamic interference image produced with energy of said input beam set, and
- an image component separator for separating energy from said dynamic interference image having energy of at least one sideband frequency produced by movement of energy components within said dynamic interference image to provide at least one photonic energy output at said sideband frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.