USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Broadband Royalty Corporation

Arris Enterprises LLC

Arris Group, Inc.

Optinel Systems, Inc.

Paul J Matthews

Sandeep T Vohra

Paul D Biernacki

Irl N Duling

Thomas S Clark

Michael E Gingerich

Evelyn Boettcher

David A Tulchinsky

Sandeep J Vohra

Michael L Frankel

An arrangement is provided for transporting information from a central information distribution center (CIDC) to locations where such information is intended. Upon receiving a request for narrowcast information to be delivered to a node associated with a head end, the CIDC selects the requested information, generates an optical signal encoded with the requested information using information channels dedicated to narrowcast information transport for the node, and sends the optical signal to the head end via an optical fiber. When the head end receives the optical signal, the narrowcast information transport channels dedicated to the node are translated into subcarriers acceptable to the node before the requested narrowcast information is forwarded to the node.

Media stream distribution system

Agile block downconversion for the distribution of narrowcast services

Arrangements are provided for an amplitude balanced optical amplifier. A combination of an optical preamplifier and a gain/loss variation modification device (VMD) is employed. The gain/loss VMD compensates the gain variation across different wavelength channels introduced by the preamplifier. The gain/loss VMD operates based on a gain/loss profile that is complementary to that of the preamplifier. More than one amplifier may be deployed. In addition, feedback control may be applied to either the preamplifier or the gain/loss VMD to dynamically control the performance.

Amplitude balancing for multilevel signal transmission

A transmitter for optical communication systems includes a source of optical radiation, a source of complex non-information signals, and a modulator unit in communication with the source of optical radiation. The modulator unit is also in communication with the source of complex non-information signals. The modulator has an input adapted to receive information-bearing signals.

Efficient optical transmission system

An arrangement is provided for a configurable optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) mechanism. The configurable OADM mechanism comprises at least one configurable optical add/drop multiplexer (C-OADM) module and at least one switch associated with the C-OADM modules (the minimum configuration is only one C-OADM with bypass (expansion) switches). The switches can be configured so that some of the C-OADM modules can be selected to form a processing pipeline. Each of the selected C-OADM moduels may be further configured to perform wavelength manipulations such as adding a wavelength, dropping a wavelength, tapping an input optical signal, and a combination thereof.

Configurable optical add/drop multiplexer with partial or complete wavelength drop capability

An array antenna apparatus for producing a time-delay beamformed RF signal includes a laser, a modulator for RF modulating the laser optical signal, a first plurality of optical paths coupling the modulator output to a dispersive prism, another plurality of optical paths coupling the dispersive prism outputs to a corresponding plurality of time delay trimmers, an attenuator coupled to each time delay trimmer, and an optical switching matrix to which the time delay trimmers outputs are input. The inputs to the optical switching matrix accordingly are time and amplitude adjusted to remove front end errors prior to rerouting. This is repeated in the back end of the apparatus, in which the switching matrix outputs are each applied to a corresponding attenuator, the outputs of which are then each applied to a photodetector to generate a plurality of replica RF signals that are each applied to a time shifter, thereby producing an error-corrected output that is then applied to an antenna array. The output of the antenna array is a time-delay beamformed RF signal having a 2-D beamsteering capability.

Reconfigurable optical beamformer for simplified time steered arrays

A wavelength tunable filter for optical communication systems has an optical fiber containing a Bragg grating disposed within a compliant support block. A length of the fiber is wrapped in a spiral of fixed pitch around the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical polymer support block. The support block is placed within a support frame to which a micrometer screw assembly is attached and oriented to apply a variable mechanical load substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical support block. Application of the load introduces a strain on the support block, changing the period of the refractive index in the fiber Bragg grating with a resulting shift in the Bragg reflection peak.

Wavelength tunable filter device for fiber optic systems

A new pipeline method and apparatus for photonic analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) utilizing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and distributed phase modulation is disclosed. The analog-to-digital conversion is performed within the optical system of the ADC, and thus the optical output is a digital bit pattern. The optical output of this system thus facilitates ADC conversion at much higher speeds than available with conventional electronic ADCs. Phase modulators and polarization-based optics are used to map an input analog waveform into a binary output.

Photonic analog-to-digital converter utilizing wavelength division multiplexing and distributed optical phase modulation

A circuit for selectably generating a plurality of preselected digital output signals which are precise and accurate, and among which the circuit can switch rapidly. In one embodiment, the outputs are connected to analog circuit signals, and drive a optical laser such that choice of the particular outputs of the circuit permits controllable switching of the laser output wavelength.

Control circuit, and system using same

This is a technique using a fiber-optic, wideband array antenna beamformer having cascaded, chirped fiber gratings in a distributed architecture based upon the use of cascaded, fiber-optic, chirped Bragg gratings in a distributed architecture for use in wideband, time-steered array antennas. A wavelength tunable laser serves as a carrier for a microwave signal which is modulated upon it. The signal is corporately distributed to each feed of the array. Each feed then traverses a multi-port optical circulator and is reflected off a number of identical, chirped fiber gratings proportional to their position within the array. The signal is then demodulated and fed to the appropriate antenna element. All gratings are identical with the same length and dispersion (ps/nm). Time-steering is accomplished by tuning the laser wavelength such that the effective reflection point in an individual grating is changed due to the chirped nature of the grating.

Growing community of inventors

Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

Paul J Matthews