Hybrid WDM-TDM optical communication and data link

• Main Authors: Delfyett, Peter J, Mathason, Brian
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.11.2003

This invention relates to an ulra-high speed data and communication link, and in particular to a hybrid WDM-TDM transmitter capable of simultaneously generating up to twenty or more tunable WDM channels using a single-striped Ga As/AlGaAs type semiconductor optical amplifier, and was funded in part by the National Science Foundation ECS contract number 9522267, and is a Continuation-in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/096,271 filed Jun. 11, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,328. This application claims the benefit of provisional applicaition No. 60/0855,566. A hybrid WDM-TDM optical link employing a hybrid modelocked multi-wavelength semiconductor which provides approximately 4 to approximately 20 wavelength channels that makes possible modulated multiplexed data which when demultiplexed by ultra fast optical demultiplexing provides rates suitable for conventional electronic photo receivers. The link uses single-stripe GaAs/AlGaAs semiconductor optical amplifiers which simultaneously generate from approximately four to more than approximately twenty tunable WDM channels. Diode laser can also include InP, InGaAlP, InGaAsP, InGaP, InGaAs. A four channel version transmits approximately 12 picosecond pulses at approximately 2.5 GHz for an aggregate pulse rate of 100 GHz. When generating approximately 20 wavelength channels, each transmitting approximately 12 picosecond pulses at a rate of approximately 600 MHz, there is provided optical data and transmission systems operating at rates in excess of 800 Gbits/s.