Optical pulse source
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications public limited company
InventorsPaul Gunning, Kevin Smith, Davey Russell, Julian Kazimierz Lucek, David Graham Moodie, Derek Nesset
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical pulse source includes a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode. Light from a continuous wave source is opitically coupled into the laser cavity. Light output from the laser cavity passes through an electro-optic amplitude modulator. Synchronized modulating signals are applied to the semiconductor diode and to the amplitude modulator. The source outputs short low-jitter low-pedestal optical pulses and is suitable for use, for example, in a broadband optical network operating at thigh bit rates of 100 Gbit/s or more, or in an optical interconnect.
Claims17
An optical pulse source comprising:
- a) a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode;
- b) a continuous wave light source which is coupled to the optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode;
- c) an electro-optic amplitude modulator which is connected to the optical output of the semiconductor laser diode;
- and
- d) control inputs, located respectively on the semiconductor laser diode and on the electro-optic modulator, for applying synchronized modulating signals to the semiconductor laser diode and to the modulator.
A method of generating optical pulses comprising:
- a) applying a first electrical modulating signal to a gate input of a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode;
- b) coupling continuous wave light into an optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode;
- c) applying a second modulating signal which is synchronised to the first electrical modulating signal to a control input of an electro-optic amplitude modulator;
- and
- d) passing pulses output from the semiconductor laser diode through the electro-optic amplitude modulator;
- wherein step (a) includes passing the first electrical modulating signal through a pulse generator before applying the said signal to the said gate input.
A method of generating optical pulses comprising:
- a) applying a first electrical modulating signal to a gate input of a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode;
- b) coupling continuous wave light into an optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode;
- c) applying a second modulating signal which is synchronised to the first electrical modulating signal to a control input of an electro-optic amplitude modulator;
- and
- d) passing pulses output from the semiconductor laser diode through the electro-optic amplitude modulator;
- wherein step (b) includes passing the second modulating signal through a pulse generator before applying the said signal to the control input.
A method of generating optical pulses comprising:
- a) applying a first electrical modulating signal to a gate input of a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode;
- b) coupling continuous wave light into an optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode;
- c) applying a second modulating signal which is synchronised to the first electrical modulating signal to a control input of an electro-optic amplitude modulator;
- and
- d) passing pulses output from the semiconductor laser diode through the electro-optic amplitude modulator;
- and
- e) passing the output of the electro-optic modulator through an optical pulse shaper.
A method of operating an optical communications network including generating an optical pulse by a method comprising:
- a) applying a first electrical modulating signal to a gate input of a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode;
- b) coupling continuous wave light into an optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode;
- c) applying a second modulating signal which is synchronised to the first electrical modulating signal to a control input of an electro-optic amplitude modulator;
- and
- d) passing pulses output from the semiconductor laser diode through the electro-optic amplitude modulator.
An optical pulse source comprising:
- a) a semiconductor laser diode;
- b) a continuous wave light source which is coupled to the optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode;
- c) an optical amplitude modulator which is connected to the optical output of the semiconductor laser diode;
- d) means for applying synchronised modulating signals to the semiconductor laser diode and to the optical amplitude modulator.
An optical communications network including an optical pulse source comprising:
- a) a gain-switched semiconductor laser diode;
- b) a continuous wave light source which is coupled to the optical cavity of the semiconductor laser diode;
- c) an electro-optic amplitude modulator which is connected to the optical output of the semiconductor laser diode;
- and
- d) control inputs, located respectively on the semiconductor laser diode and on the electro-optic modulator, for applying synchronised modulating signals to the semiconductor laser diode and to the modulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.