Optical: systems and elements – Optical computing without diffraction – Logic gate
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-20
2004-02-17
Dunn, Drew A. (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Optical computing without diffraction
Logic gate
C359S107000, C359S244000, C359S237000, C359S582000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06693732
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
The present application may be related to the following commonly owned U.S. patent applications, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/846,886 entitled OPTICAL LIMITER BASED ON NONLINEAR REFRACTION, filed on May 1, 2001 in the names of Edward H. Sargent and Lukasz Brzozowski; and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/933,315 entitled OPTICAL LOGIC DEVICES BASED ON STABLE, NON-ABSORBING OPTICAL HARD LIMITERS, filed on even date herewith in the names of Erik V. Johnson and Edward H. Sargent.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to optical information processing, and more particularly to storing an optical signal in the optical state.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In today's information age, optical communication technologies are being used more and more frequently for transmitting information at very high speeds. Traditionally, information processing equipment (such as switches, routers, and computers) process information electronically. Therefore, optical communications are often converted into electronic form for processing by the information processing equipment. This electronic processing is slow relative to the speed of the optical communications themselves, and thus often becomes a “bottleneck” of optical communication and processing systems.
Optical information processing systems process information optically without the need to convert the information to an electronic form for processing electronically. One challenge in an optical information processing is the storage of an optical signal. Traditionally, storage of an optical signal would be accomplished by detecting the signal with a photodetector, converting it into excited carriers, and then storing these excited carriers electronically. This technique for storing optical signals is limited by the speed of the electronics and becomes unsatisfactory as optical communication speeds increase.
Thus, optical information processing systems need to store an optical signal in the optical state. The use of bistable devices to store optical signals has been explored (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,573,767, 4,930,873, 5,349,593, 5,461,507, 5,537,243), and the use of stable devices with feedback has also been examined (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,617,232, 5,999,284). As well, devices which store information as a chemical reaction have been patented (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,864,536, 4,992,654, 5,479,384, 6,005,791).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an optical sampler based on stable, non-absorbing optical hard limiters includes an optical feedback loop for storing an optical signal in optical form. The optical feedback loop includes appropriate components for amplifying/reproducing the stored optical signal. The optical sampler outputs the stored optical signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4128300 (1978-12-01), Stotts et al.
patent: 4262992 (1981-04-01), Berthold, III
patent: 4573767 (1986-03-01), Jewell
patent: 4764889 (1988-08-01), Hinton et al.
patent: 4864536 (1989-09-01), Lindmayer
patent: 4894818 (1990-01-01), Fujioka et al.
patent: 4930873 (1990-06-01), Hunter
patent: 4932739 (1990-06-01), Islam
patent: 4962987 (1990-10-01), Doran
patent: 4992654 (1991-02-01), Crossland et al.
patent: 5078464 (1992-01-01), Islam
patent: 5144375 (1992-09-01), Gabriel et al.
patent: 5315422 (1994-05-01), Utaka et al.
patent: 5349593 (1994-09-01), Lomashevitch et al.
patent: 5461507 (1995-10-01), Westland et al.
patent: 5479384 (1995-12-01), Toth et al.
patent: 5488501 (1996-01-01), Barnsley
patent: 5537243 (1996-07-01), Fatehi et al.
patent: 5617232 (1997-04-01), Takemori
patent: 5623366 (1997-04-01), Hait
patent: 5655039 (1997-08-01), Evans
patent: 5739933 (1998-04-01), Dembeck et al.
patent: 5831731 (1998-11-01), Hall et al.
patent: 5999283 (1999-12-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5999284 (1999-12-01), Roberts
patent: 6005791 (1999-12-01), Gudesen et al.
patent: 6041126 (2000-03-01), Terai et al.
patent: 6044341 (2000-03-01), Takahashi
“Wave proagation in nonlinear photonic band-gap materials” Li, et. al., Physical Review B: Condensed Matter vol. 53, No. 23, 15577-15585 (Jun. 15, 1996).
“Three-Dimensional Arrays in Polymer Nanocomposites” Kumacheva, et al., Advanced Material, 1999, 11, No. 3.
“Intergrable, Low-Cost, All-Optical WDM Signal Processing: Narrowband Hard Limiters and Analog-to-Digital Converters” Sargent, et al., Jan. 2000.
“Nonlinear Distributed Feedback Structures for Optical Sensor Protection” Brzozowski, et al., Apr. 2000.
“Optical Signal Processing Using Nonlinear Distributed Feedback Structures” Brzozowski, et al., IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 36, No. 5, May 2000.
“All-Optical Analog-to-Digital Converter for Photonic Networks Using Multilevel Signaling” Brzozowski, et al., Jun., 2000.
“Photonic Crystals for Intergrated Optical Computing” Brzozowski, et al., Jun. 2000.
“Nonlinear distributed-feedback structures as passive optical limiters” Brzozowski, et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am B, vol. 17, No. 8, Aug. 2000.
“Stability of Periodic Nonlinear Optical Structures for Limiting and Logic”, Brzozowski, et al., Sep. 2000.
“Transmission Regimes of Periodic Nonlinear Optical Structures” Pelinovsky, Dmitry, Rapid Communications, Physical Review E, vol. 62, No. 4, Oct. 2000.
“Nonlinear Disordered Media for Broad-Band Optical Limiting” Brzozowski, et al., IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, vol. 36, No. 11, Nov. 2000.
“Realization of All-Optical Ultrafast Logic Gates Using Triple Core Asymmetric Nonlinear Directional Coupler”, Natasa Trivunac-Vukovic, Journal of Optical Communications, 2001.
“All-Optical Analog-to Digital Converters, Hardlimiters, and Logic Gates”, Brzozowski, et al., Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 19, No. 1, Jan. 2001.
“Stable All-Optical Limiting in Nonlinear Periodic Structures”, Pelinovsky et al., Feb. 8, 2001.
“All-Optical Signal Processing and Packet Forwarding Using Nonmonotonic Intensity Transfer Characteristics”, Johnson, E.V., A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science Graduate Department of electrical and Computer Engineering University of Toronto, 2001.
Johnson Erik V.
Sargent Edward H.
Assaf Fayez
Dunn Drew A.
Nortel Networks Limited
Steubing McGuinness & Manaras LLP
LandOfFree
Optical sampler based on stable, non-absorbing optical hard... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical sampler based on stable, non-absorbing optical hard..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical sampler based on stable, non-absorbing optical hard... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3343905