Optical digital to analog converter
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsGary A. Frazier, Roger K. Lake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a digital to analog converter for converting a digital signal to an analog optical signal includes a light source and a plurality optical switches. Each optical switch is responsive to a respective one of a plurality of bits of a digital signal to selectively allow transmission of light from the light source through the switch. The digital to analog converter also includes a light combination system operable to combine the light passed through each of the switches and produce an analog optical signal indicative of the digital signal.
Claims16
An optical digital to analog converter for converting a digital signal to an analog optical signal comprising:
- a laser;
- a plurality of optical switches each responsive to a respective one of a plurality of bits of the digital signal to selectively transmit light from the laser, the plurality of optical switches comprising a plurality of intraband quantum-well absorbers that operate with optical transitions in Indium Phosphide;
- and
- a plurality of light combiners connected in a one-to-one fashion with the optical switches and each having a gain of approximately 3 dB, receiving any light transmitted by the respective optical switch, and providing a respective output signal, the plurality of light combiners arranged in series such that the output of a last light combiner in the series is indicative of the digital signal.
An optical digital to analog converter for converting a digital signal to an analog optical signal comprising:
- a light source;
- a plurality of optical switches each responsive to a respective one of a plurality of bits of the digital signal to selectively allow transmission of light from the light source through the switch, wherein the plurality of optical switches comprises a plurality of intraband quantum-well absorbers that operate with optical transitions in Indium Phosphide;
- and
- a light combination system operable to combine the light passed through each of the switches and produce an analog optical signal indicative of the digital signal.
A method for converting a digital signal to an analog optical signal comprising:
- selectively allowing light to pass through respective ones of a plurality of optical switches based at least in part on the digital signal, the digital signal having a plurality of bits associated with respective ones of the plurality of optical switches, the plurality of optical switches comprising a plurality of intraband quantum-well absorbers that operate with optical transitions in Indium Phosphide;
- and
- combining the light passing through respective ones of the plurality of optical switches such that the combined light is representative of the digital signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.