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:
Sep. 15, 2015
Filed:
Jul. 27, 2011
Juergen Hauenschild, Bochum, DE;
Chris Fludger, Nuremberg, DE;
Thomas Duthel, Nuremberg, DE;
Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and methods for generating multi-level output signals for use by an optical modulator are provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of input signal lines each configured to receive a binary input signal, an output signal line and a plurality of amplifier stages. The amplifier stages are each connected between one of the input signal lines and the output signal line so as to each produce an output voltage on the output signal line of either a first level or a second level. The level of the output voltage is based on the binary signal at the respective input signal line, and the output voltages of the respective plurality of amplifier stages collectively produce a summed analog output voltage on the output signal line at two or more different levels each configured to drive an optical modulator.