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:
Jan. 16, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1997
Naimish S. Patel, Andover, MA (US);
Katherine L. Hall, Westford, MA (US);
John D. Moores, Concord, MA (US);
Kristin A. Rauschenbach, Lexington, MA (US);
Steven G. Finn, Framingham, MA (US);
Richard A. Barry, Brookline, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
An optical bit rate for communication systems. The optical bit rate converter converts an ultra-high speed optical data stream to a lower rate optical data stream. In one embodiment, the optical bit rate converter converts the ultra-high speed optical data stream to a lower rate optical data stream that can be detected and processed electronically. The optical rate converter includes a buffer presenting a repeating optical data bit pattern, an optical sampler presenting an optical sampling bit stream, and an optical correlator. The optical correlator has a first input in communication with the output of the buffer and a second input in communication with the output of the optical sampler. The optical correlator produces a rate-converted optical data bit stream at its output in response to the repeating optical data bit pattern produced by the buffer and the optical sampling bit stream produced by the optical sampler. In one embodiment, the buffer has a data input and stores an optical data bit stream received from a high speed optical data source. In another embodiment, the optical bit rate converter time dilates the repeating optical data bit pattern received from the buffer. In yet another embodiment, the optical bit rate converter demultiplexes the repeating optical data bit pattern received from the buffer. The invention also relates to a method for rate-converting an ultra-high speed optical data stream to a lower rate optical data stream.