All-optical regenerator for retiming, reshaping and retransmitting an optical signal

A method for using an all-optical regenerator to retime, reshape and retransmit an input optical signal, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving and polarizing the input optical signal;
• retiming and reshaping the polarized input optical signal and transmitting the retimed and reshaped polarized input optical signal as a polarized output optical signal;
• and
• comparing a data stream in the polarised input optical signal to a data stream in the polarized output optical signal to recapture a clock signal of the polarized input optical signal, wherein the recaptured clock signal is used to retime the polarized input optical signal.

An optical regenerator for retiming, reshaping and retransmitting an input optical signal, comprising:

• a polarizer for polarizing the input optical signal;
• a first coupler, coupled to said polarizer, for splitting the polarized input optical signal and outputting a first polarized input optical signal and a second polarized input optical signal;
• a laser;
• a first interferometer, coupled to said first coupler and said laser, for retiming and reshaping the first polarized input optical signal and transmitting the retimed and reshaped first polarized input optical signal as a polarized output optical signal;
• a second coupler, coupled to said first interferometer, for splitting the polarized output optical signal and outputting a first polarized output optical signal and a second polarized output optical signal;
• a phase comparator, coupled to said first coupler and said second coupler, for generating a phase mismatch signal in response to a phase difference between the second polarized input optical signal and the first polarized output optical signal;
• an optical-to-electrical converter, coupled to said phase comparator, for converting the phase mismatch signal into an electrical feedback signal;
• a low pass filter, coupled to said optical-to-electrical converter, for receiving the electrical feedback signal and outputting an averaged electrical feedback signal;
• and
• a voltage controlled oscillator, coupled to said low pass filter, for receiving the averaged electrical feedback signal and generating a clock signal used by said laser to enable said first interferometer to retime the first polarized input optical signal, wherein the second polarized output optical signal from said second coupler is outputted from said optical regenerator.

A method for using an optical regenerator to retime, reshape and retransmit an input optical signal, said method comprising the steps of:

• polarizing, at a polarizer, the input optical signal;
• splitting, at a first coupler, the polarized input optical signal and outputting a first polarized input optical signal and a second polarized input optical signal;
• receiving, at a first interferometer, the first polarized input optical signal and retiming and reshaping the first polarized input optical signal and transmitting the retimed and reshaped first polarized input optical signal as a polarized output optical signal;
• splitting, at a second coupler, the polarized output optical signal and outputting a first polarized output optical signal and a second polarized output optical signal;
• generating, at a phase comparator, a phase mismatch signal in response to a phase difference between the second polarized input optical signal and the first polarized output optical signal;
• converting, at an optical-to-electrical converter, the phase mismatch signal into an electrical feedback signal;
• filtering, at a low pass filter, the electrical feedback signal and outputting an averaged electrical feedback signal;
• and
• receiving, at a voltage controlled oscillator, the averaged electrical feedback signal and generating a clock signal used by a laser to enable said first interferometer to retime the polarized input optical signal, wherein the second polarized output optical signal from said second coupler is outputted from said optical regenerator.

A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical network, comprising:

• at least one transmitter;
• at least one receiver coupled to said at least one transmitter by a transmission path, said transmission path has located therein at least one all-optical 3R regenerator that includes:
• a polarizer for polarizing an input optical signal;
• a laser;
• a first interferometer, coupled to said polarizer and said laser, for retiming and reshaping the polarized input optical signal and transmitting the retimed and reshaped polarized input optical signal as a polarized output optical signal;
• and
• a clock recovery mechanism, coupled to said laser and said first interferometer, that uses a second interferometer and electrical components to recapture a clock signal of the polarized input optical signal, said laser uses the recaptured clock signal to drive said first interferometer to retime the polarized input optical signal.