METHOD AND CIRCUIT FOR ENCODING MULTI-LEVEL PULSE AMPLITUDE MODULATED SIGNALS USING INTEGRATED OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICES
First Claim
1. A method for processing signals, the method comprising:
- generating a multi-level, amplitude-modulated optical signal utilizing an optical modulator driven by two or more of a plurality of electrical input signals, wherein;
said optical modulator comprises a plurality of optical modulator elements coupled in series and configured into a plurality of groups; and
a number of said optical modular elements and a number of said plurality of groups configure a number of levels in said multi-level amplitude modulated optical signal.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for encoding multi-level pulse amplitude modulated signals using integrated optoelectronics are disclosed and may include generating a multi-level, amplitude-modulated optical signal utilizing an optical modulator driven by two or more electrical input signals. The optical modulator may include optical modulator elements coupled in series and configured into groups. The number of optical modular elements and groups may configure the number of levels in the multi-level amplitude modulated optical signal. Unit drivers may be coupled to each of the groups. The electrical input signals may be synchronized before communicating them to the unit drivers utilizing flip-flops. Phase addition may be synchronized utilizing one or more electrical delay lines. The optical modulator may be integrated on a single substrate, which may include one of: silicon, gallium arsenide, germanium, indium gallium arsenide, polymers, or indium phosphide. The optical modulator may include a Mach-Zehnder interferometer or one or more ring modulators.
76 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for processing signals, the method comprising:
generating a multi-level, amplitude-modulated optical signal utilizing an optical modulator driven by two or more of a plurality of electrical input signals, wherein; said optical modulator comprises a plurality of optical modulator elements coupled in series and configured into a plurality of groups; and a number of said optical modular elements and a number of said plurality of groups configure a number of levels in said multi-level amplitude modulated optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for processing signals, the system comprising:
one or more optical and electrical components in an optical modulator that is operable to generate a multi-level, amplitude-modulated optical signal utilizing an optical modulator driven by two or more of a plurality of electrical input signals, wherein; said optical modulator comprises a plurality of optical modulator elements coupled in series and configured into a plurality of groups; and a number of said optical modular elements and a number of said plurality of groups configure a number of levels in said multi-level amplitude modulated optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification