Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Trw Limited

Lightica, Inc.

James E Leight

Elizabeth Twyford Kunkee

David Lawrence Rollins

Mahmoud Fallahi

Richard A Fields

David V Forbes

Gregory S Maurer

Yuri A Zakharenkov

An integrated optoelectronic device ( ) includes a substrate ( ), at least one optoelectronic component ( ) provided on the substrate ( ), and a waveguide ( ) provided on the substrate ( ) and optically connected to the at least one optoelectronic component ( ). The waveguide ( ) is made of a sol-gel glass. A method for making the integrated optoelectronic device ( ) includes the steps of providing a substrate ( ), providing at least one optoelectronic component ( ) on the substrate ( ), and providing at least one sol-gel glass waveguide ( ) on the substrate ( ) and optically connected to the at least one optoelectronic component ( ).

Integrated optoelectronic device and method for making same

An RF combiner ( ) that combines a plurality of RF signals ( ) in the optical domain. The combiner ( ) includes a single optical source ( ) that generates an optical beam ( ). The optical beam ( ) is directed through a series of optical modulators ( ), such as optical phase modulators. Each modulator ( ) is responsive to an RF signal ( ) that is to be combined with the other RF signals ( ). Each modulator ( ) modulates the optical signal ( ) with the RF signal ( ) so that the modulations combine in an additive manner. A single optical phase demodulator ( ) is used to demodulate the composite phase modulated optical beam ( ) to generate the combined RF signal ( ). Suitable delay devices ( ) can be used between the optical modulators ( ), or the RF signals can be matched so that the RF signals combine in phase.

RF combiner based on cascaded optical phase modulation

An optical device for serializing data signals in a plurality of parallel channels is disclosed, including: (a) a plurality of waveguides adapted to conduct light signals of a predetermined wavelength; and (b) a nonlinear optical element having a refractive index and defining an optical path thereon adapted and configured to conduct a control light pulse along the optical path, wherein a portion of each of the plurality of waveguides is adjacent to or in contact with the nonlinear optical element at a different portion along the optical path; wherein the refractive index along the optical path is substantially altered where the control pulse is located such that the relative phase of the light signals of the predetermined wavelength is altered only where the signal is substantially coincident with the control pulse. The refractive index along the optical path in the nonlinear optical element is such that the light signals of the predetermined frequency in any one of the waveguides substantially cannot propagate past the point where the waveguide is adjacent to or in contact with the nonlinear optical element when the control pulse is not adjacent the point, and can substantially freely propagate through the point when the control pulse is adjacent the point. The device further includes a single source of the control pulse, wherein the light path is adapted and configured to conduct the control pulse to all portions of the light path where the waveguides are adjacent to or in contact with the nonlinear optical element, whereby a single control pulse can alter the relative phases of all light signals substantially coincident with the control pulse propagating along the optical path.

Optical time-division multiplexing system

An optically implemented wide bandwidth correlation system ( ) that employs a multi-mode imaging device ( ) and a particular modulation format to provide both in-phase and quadrature phase correlation components in a single correlation process. The correlation system ( ) includes an optical source ( ) that generates a laser beam ( ) that is split into a first beam path ( ) and a second beam path ( ). The first split beam and a first electrical signal are applied to a first modulator ( ) in the first path ( ) and the second split beam and the second electrical signal are applied to a second modulator ( ) in the second path ( ). The modulated beams are then applied to the optical imaging device ( ) that causes the beams to interfere with each other within an optical cavity ( ). Four optical outputs are connected to the optical cavity ( ) at strategic locations to provide a zero phase output and a &pgr; phase output that represent the in-phase correlation component, and a &pgr;/2 quadrature phase output and a 3&pgr;/2 quadrature phase output that represent the quadrature phase correlation component. A photodetector (60-66) detects each of the output signals from the imaging device ( ) to provide electrical signals indicative of the phase outputs. A first differential amplifier ( ) receives the electrical signals of the in-phase component and a second differential amplifier ( ) receives the electrical signals of the quadrature phase component. The differential amplifier outputs are applied to separate integrators ( ) to sum the signals for the correlation process. The modulators can be Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulators to provide a single sideband suppressed carrier modulation so that the in-phase and quadrature phase correlation components can be simultaneously generated.

Optically implemented wideband complex correlator using a multi-mode imaging device

A method (,) and process (,) for extending the optical bandwidth of an optical signal splitter/amplifier (,) that includes optical amplifier material and an multi-mode interference splitter. A wider bandwidth is obtained by equalizing both the gain and noise figures for the splitter/amplifier (,) as a function of the perfect focus wavelength of the splitter and the amplified spontaneous emission spectra of the gain material. The peak wavelength of the semiconductor optical amplifier material is offset a distance from the perfect focus wavelength so that the net gain of the splitter/amplifier (,) is the semiconductor gain multiplied by the insertion loss of the splitter.

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San Ramon, CA, United States of America

James E Leight