California Institute of Technology

Larry A Bergman

Robert H Nixon

James L Lambert

Cavour Yeh

Alan R Johnston

John M Morookian

Peter L Chua

Sadik Esener

A technique of setting powers and shape of beams to allow optical solitons to exist on WDM beams in fibers.

Wavelength division multiplexed optical solitons

The invention is a fiber-optic communication network, including a fiber-optic coupler having multiple fiber-optic ports and multiple optical transceivers which are individually connected to one of the fiber-optic pods. Each optical transceivers includes apparatus for transmitting to and receiving from the fiber-optic coupler, optical pulse signals in accordance with a predetermined code sequence of the transceiver, and optical amplifiers for amplifying the optical pulse signals. Each optical transceivers also includes apparatus for spectrally phase encoding/decoding, in accordance with the predetermined code sequence, optical pulse signals being transmitted to and received from its associated fiber-optic port, and apparatus for reconfiguring the code sequence in accordance with a user select signal. Each optical transceivers further includes detection apparatus for detecting a received optical pulse signal transmitted from another of the optical transceivers. The detector apparatus includes apparatus for magnifying the amplitude of the received optical pulse signal. Additionally, each of the optical transceivers includes apparatus for selecting an optical carrier center frequency at which the optical transceiver receives and transmits optical pulse signals within a predetermined frequency band in accordance with a user center frequency select signal. The different carrier center frequencies are selectable from a set of non-overlapping carrier frequency bands. This allows communications on the network between different user pairs at different carrier center frequencies.

Optical protocols for communication networks

An optically intraconnected computer and a reconfigurable holographic optical element employed therein. The basic computer comprises a memory for holding a sequence of instructions to be executed; logic for accessing the instructions in sequence; logic for determining for each the instruction the function to be performed and the effective address thereof; a plurality of individual elements on a common support substrate optimized to perform certain logical sequences employed in executing the instructions; and, element selection logic connected to the logic determining the function to be performed for each the instruction for determining the class of each function and for causing the instruction to be executed by those the elements which perform those associated the logical sequences affecting the instruction execution in an optimum manner. In the optically intraconnected version, the element selection logic is adapted for transmitting and switching signals to the elements optically.

Optically intraconnected computer employing dynamically reconfigurable

A random access memory addressing system utilizing optical links between memory and the read/write logic circuits comprises addressing circuits including a plurality of light signal sources, a plurality of optical gates including optical detectors associated with the memory cells, and a holographic optical element adapted to reflect and direct the light signals to the desired memory cell locations. More particularly, it is a multi-port, binary computer memory for interfacing with a plurality of computers. There are a plurality of storage cells for containing bits of binary information, the storage cells being disposed at the intersections of a plurality of row conductors and a plurality of column conductors. There is interfacing logic for receiving information from the computers directing access to ones of the storage cells. There are first light sources associated with the interfacing logic for transmitting a first light beam with the access information modulated thereon. First light detectors are associated with the storage cells for receiving the first light beam, for generating an electrical signal containing the access information, and for conducting the electrical signal to the one of the storage cells to which it is directed. There are holographic optical elements for reflecting the first light beam from the first light sources to the first light detectors.

Multi-port, optically addressed RAM

An asynchronous, high-speed, fiber optic local area network originally developed for tactical environments with additional benefits for other environments such as spacecraft, and the like. The network supports ordinary data packet traffic simultaneously with synchronous T1 voice traffic over a common token ring channel; however, the techniques and apparatus of this invention can be applied to any deterministic class of packet data networks, including multitier backbones, that must transport stream data (e.g., video, SAR, sensors) as well as data. A voice interface module parses, buffers, and resynchronizes the voice data to the packet network employing elastic buffers on both the sending and receiving ends. Voice call setup and switching functions are performed external to the network with ordinary PABX equipment. Clock information is passed across network boundaries in a token passing ring by preceeding the token with an idle period of non-transmission which allows the token to be used to re-establish a clock synchronized to the data. Provision is made to monitor and compensate the elastic receiving buffers so as to prevent them from overflowing or going empty.

Growing community of inventors

Van Nuys, CA, United States of America

Larry A Bergman