The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 30, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 20, 1997
Thomas Lawson Koch, Holmdel, NJ (US);
Xing Pan, Matawan, NJ (US);
Lucent Technologies Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
An interferometer having semiconductor optical amplifiers in one or both arms of the interferometer converts information from a first wavelength to another predetermined wavelength. The original data signal (at the first wavelength) is coupled into the interferometer in such a way that it is confined to propagate, either co-directionally or contra-directionally, in only one arm of the interferometer together with the lightwave signal at the predetermined wavelength. This arm includes the semiconductor optical amplifier. In this way, the original data signal is utilized effectively to maximize the interference effect, which is required for wavelength conversion, while minimizing the problems associated with simultaneously saturating amplifiers in the interferometer structure.