Generation of radio frequency modulated optical radiation
First Claim
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1. A source of radio frequency modulated optical radiation comprising:
- a semiconductor electroabsorption modulator having an optical input, an electrical input and an optical output, anda source of radio frequency electrical radiation electrically connected to the electrical input of the semiconductor electroabsorption modulator,wherein operating conditions for the modulator cause optical signals input to the optical input of the semiconductor electroabsorption modulator to be modulated at harmonics of the electrical radiation frequency and output from the optical output of the semiconductor electroabsorption modulator.
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Abstract
Radio frequency modulated optical radiation is generated for use in a radio over fibre communications system. A semiconductor electroabsorption modulator efficiently modulates an input optical signal at harmonics of the electrical modulation frequency applied to the electroabsorption modulator. A low frequency design, and thus low cost, electroabsorption modulator is utilized to generate higher order harmonics of an electrical drive signal for use in a radie over fibre communications systems.
116 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A source of radio frequency modulated optical radiation comprising:
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a semiconductor electroabsorption modulator having an optical input, an electrical input and an optical output, and a source of radio frequency electrical radiation electrically connected to the electrical input of the semiconductor electroabsorption modulator, wherein operating conditions for the modulator cause optical signals input to the optical input of the semiconductor electroabsorption modulator to be modulated at harmonics of the electrical radiation frequency and output from the optical output of the semiconductor electroabsorption modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A radio over fibre communications system comprising:
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a source of radio frequency modulated optical signals at a first site, a photodetector and transmitting radio antenna at a second site, a receiving radio antenna at a third site, and an optical fibre coupled at a first end to the source of radio frequency modulated optical signals and at a second end to the transmitting radio antenna, so that signals generated at the first site are transmitted optically to the second site via the optical fibre and are then transmitted from said transmitting radio antenna at the second site to said receiving radio antenna at the third site via free space, wherein said source of radio frequency modulated optical signals comprises a semiconductor electroabsorption modulator with an optical signal input to said modulator being modulated at least one harmonic of an electrical radio frequency signal input to said semiconductor electroabsorption modulator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of generating a modulated optical signal at a harmonic frequency of an input radio frequency signal, the method comprising the steps of:
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inputting an optical signal to a semiconductor electroabsorption modulator; applying an electrical modulation signal to the semiconductor electroabsorption modulator; and outputting an optical signal, modulated at least one harmonic frequency of the electrical signal, from the electroabsorption modulator.
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Specification