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:
Jul. 16, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 27, 1999
Richard L. Robertson, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Abstract
An optical analog-to-digital converter (ADC) comprises an analog input, an electromagnetic wave generator operatively connected to the analog input, an intensity discriminating material to refract an output electromagnetic wave, and an electromagnetic wave detector. The electromagnetic wave generator must be able to produce an output wave of sufficient intensity to induce a change in the refractive index of the intensity discriminating material. The electromagnetic wave generator must also be able to produce an output wave of varying intensity, the intensity being dependent on the analog input. An intensity discriminating material is one that has a different index of refraction for electromagnetic waves of different intensities. The method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal includes the steps of providing an analog input and generating an electromagnetic wave therefrom with the wave generator. The electromagnetic wave is passed through the intensity discriminating material and is refracted thereby. The refracted wave is then detected by the detector, which outputs a digital signal in response thereto.