Optical Pulse Pattern Generator Using Delayed Parallel Branches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generating an arbitrary optical pulse pattern at frequencies higher than 10 GHz is challenging due to difficulties in creating accurate electric waveforms, which are often noisy and affected by jitter, leading to distorted optical pulses.
Innovation Solution
An optical pattern generator device that splits primary laser pulses into multiple branches with controlled propagation delays and modulators, allowing for synchronized interleaving of pulses to form a desired optical pulse pattern, using a combiner to generate an optical output signal with high temporal resolution and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If an electric arbitrary waveform generator is used to control an optical intensity modulator at frequencies higher than 10 GHz, then the optical pulse pattern can be generated at high frequency, but the electric waveform becomes noisy and distorted due to bandwidth limitations and jitter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric waveform generation and modulation approach with an all-optical pulse generation system. Instead of using an electric arbitrary waveform generator to modulate continuous wave light, the invention uses an optical pulse source to directly generate optical pulses, which are then distributed through multiple branches with different propagation delays. This substitution of electric system with optical system eliminates the bandwidth and noise limitations of electric waveform generators at high frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the optical pulse generation into multiple independent branches, each with its own delay line and modulator. By distributing the primary optical pulses through multiple branches with different propagation delays and combining them at the output, the system achieves arbitrary pulse patterning without requiring high-bandwidth electric waveforms. Each branch operates independently at lower frequencies, avoiding the noise and distortion problems of single high-frequency electric modulation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the electric waveform bandwidth is increased to reduce noise and jitter, then the optical pulse quality improves, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the modulation function across multiple branches, each operating at manageable frequency levels. Instead of requiring a single high-bandwidth electric modulator, the system uses multiple lower-bandwidth modulators in parallel, each controlling a subset of pulses. This segmentation reduces the complexity requirements of individual components while achieving the same overall pulse patterning capability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple branches with different propagation delays are used to generate arbitrary pulse patterns, then the temporal resolution and pulse rate multiplication are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pulse generation task into multiple branches, where each branch handles a specific time slot or pulse subset. By assigning different propagation delays to different branches, the system achieves fine temporal resolution and can multiply the output pulse rate beyond the input pulse rate. The segmentation allows independent optimization of each branch while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the dimension of propagation delay as an additional degree of freedom for pulse control. By varying the delay lines in different branches, the system achieves arbitrary pulse patterning in the time domain without requiring complex high-speed electronic modulation. This dimensional approach to pulse control simplifies the temporal resolution achievement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device produces an optical pulse pattern with high quality and accuracy, capable of generating frequencies exceeding 10 GHz, with reduced noise and jitter, and can be converted into an electrical waveform for precise control.
Implementation Method 1
Each branch may comprise a separately controllable modulator to form modulated signals from the primary optical pulses
Implementation Method 2
The splitting and the combining may be implemented by using passive optics. The splitting, the modulation, and/or the combination may be performed substantially without deforming the shape of the optical pulses
Data Source
AI summary
A generator device for generating an arbitrary optical pulse pattern includes:a light source to provide primary laser pulses,a distributor to provide a plurality of primary optical pulses by distributing light of the primary laser pulses (LB00k) into a plurality of branches,a combiner to form an output signal by combining modulated optical signals from the branches, anda controller unit to provide control signals for controlling optical modulators of the branches,wherein a first branch comprises a first optical modulator to form a first modulated optical signal from primary optical pulses of the first branch,wherein a second branch comprises a second optical modulator to form a second modulated optical signal from primary optical pulses of the second branch, andwherein a propagation delay of the second branch is different from a propagation delay of the first branch.