Optical carrier filtering for signal/noise and dynamic range improvement

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5373383
SERIAL NO

08025153

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Abstract

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A method and apparatus for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and dynamic range of an optical fiber system. An optical fiber system (10) includes a laser(12) that produces a coherent light signal conveyed over an optical fiber (14) to a Mach-Zehnder modulator (16). An input signal modulates the coherent light, producing modulated side bands, which together with the carrier comprise a modulated light signal. The modulated light signal is filtered using an integrated optical filter (24) that substantially attenuates the carrier frequency, while passing light at the frequency of the modulated side bands. A detector (28) demodulates the filtered light with a substantially greater SNR than would otherwise have been possible. In one preferred form of the invention, the integrated optical filter comprises an imbalanced interferometer (40), and in another embodiment, tile interferometer produces imperfect nulls aligned with the carrier frequency. A relatively higher power laser(12) can be used without damage to detector (28), since the integrated optical filter substantially reduces the average power of the modulated light by attenuating the carrier, thereby enhancing SNR and dynamic range of the system.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
YAKISAMI CAPITAL CO L L C2711 CENTERVILLE RD SUITE 400 WILMINGTON DE 19808

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
LaGasse, Michael J Seattle, WA 24 386

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