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US 9,865,982 B1Granted
Environmentally robust and compact mode-locked laser
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Cullen, Mark A. Laliberte, Raymond Zanoni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mode-locked laser has optical components integrated into a single apparatus and interrelated via optical free-space coupling. The laser optical cavity path is reduced to less than ten meters, primarily composed of optical gain fiber. A Fabry-Perot filter is matched to the laser pulse repetition frequency. Utilizing a Fabry-Perot filter within the laser optical cavity suppresses supermode spurs in the phase noise spectrum; thereby reducing total timing jitter.
Claims16
A mode-locked laser apparatus, comprising:
- a pump laser diode;
- a pump combiner in optical communication with the pump laser diode;
- an output splitter;
- a modulator in optical communication with the output splitter, via free-space coupling, and the pump combiner;
- an isolator disposed in an optical pathway defined by an axis from the modulator to the pump combiner;
- and
- a Lyot filter disposed between the output splitter and the isolator, within the optical pathway, in optical communication with the output splitter and the isolator, via free-space coupling,
- wherein the pump combiner, output splitter, modulator, and isolator are fixed in a relative position within an enclosure, along the optical pathway with at least two of the pump combiner, output splitter, modulator, and isolator being in optical communication via free-space coupling.
5 more elements
A digital receiver comprising:
- a mode-locked laser configured to output a clock signal, the mode-locked laser comprising:
- a pump laser diode;
- a pump combiner in optical communication with the pump laser diode;
- an output splitter;
- a modulator in optical communication with the output splitter, via free-space coupling, and the pump combiner;
- an isolator disposed in an optical pathway defined by an axis from the modulator to the pump combiner;
- and
- a Lyot filter disposed between the output splitter and the isolator, within the optical pathway, in optical communication with the output splitter and the isolator, via free-space coupling,
- wherein the pump combiner, output splitter, modulator, and isolator are fixed in a relative position within an enclosure, along the optical pathway with at least two of the pump combiner, output splitter, modulator, and isolator being in optical communication via free-space coupling;
- and
- a receiver configured to:
- receive the clock signal from the mode-locked laser;
- and
- produce a digitized signal.
11 more elements
An analog-to-digital converter comprising:
- a mode-locked laser comprising:
- a pump laser diode;
- a pump combiner in optical communication with the pump laser diode;
- an output splitter;
- a modulator in optical communication with the output splitter, via free-space coupling, and the pump combiner;
- a Lyot filter disposed between the output splitter and the isolator, within the optical pathway, in optical communication with the output splitter via free space coupling;
- and
- an isolator in optical communication with the Lyot filter via free-space coupling,
- wherein:
- the pump combiner, output splitter, modulator, and isolator are fixed in a relative position within an enclosure, along an optical pathway defined by an axis from the modulator to the pump combiner with at least two of the pump combiner, output splitter, modulator, and isolator being in optical communication via free-space coupling;
- and
- the pump laser diode is configured to receive an analog signal.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.