Transmitting device and method for transmitting a broadband optical transmission signal

1 . A transmitting device for transmitting a broadband optical transmission signal via an optical waveguide, having an electronic subsystem and an optical subsystem,

wherein the optical subsystem has N electro-optic modulators for providing N optical signal components, where N is a number greater than 1,

wherein the electronic subsystem is configured to transform a baseband signal by a Fourier transform or a discrete Fourier transform, into a frequency spectrum containing N digital coefficient signals, and to provide, on a basis of the N digital coefficient signals, N analog coefficient signals,

wherein the electro-optic modulators of the optical subsystem are each configured to be driven by one of the N analog coefficient signals, and

wherein the electronic subsystem comprises N digital-to-analog converters for providing the N analog coefficient signals.

2 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the N digital-to-analog converters are each configured to transform one of the N digital coefficient signals by a Fourier transform; or a discrete Fourier transform, into a frequency spectrum containing M sub-coefficient signals, and to produce from the M sub-coefficient signals, one of the N analog coefficient signals.

3 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the N digital-to-analog converters have a plurality of signal sources, or a plurality of current sources, by means of which can be produced periodic signals, wherein every two frequencies of the periodic signals have a specified frequency spacing.

4 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the N digital-to-analog converters have M weighting devices, by means of which a weighting of the plurality of signal sources can be adjusted according to the M sub-coefficient signals, so that M signal components of the N analog coefficient signals can be produced, wherein every two of the M signal components have the specified frequency spacing.

5 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of signal sources have an apparatus for direct digital synthesis of the periodic signals.

6 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical subsystem is configured to perform an inverse Fourier transform or an inverse continuous Fourier transform.

7 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical subsystem has a device for producing N optical carriers.

8 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the device for producing N optical carriers has a frequency comb and an optical demultiplexer.

9 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the device for producing N optical carriers has N lasers.

10 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the optical subsystem has an optical multiplexer for combining the N optical signal components into the broadband optical transmission signal.

11 . The transmitting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic subsystem is configured to be operated at a first sample rate, and the optical subsystem is configured to be operated at a second sample rate, where a ratio of the first sample rate to the second sample rate lies in a range 0.75 to 3, in or in a range 0.9 to 2.1, or is 1 or 2.

12 . A method for transmitting a broadband optical transmission signal via an optical waveguide, using a transmitting device which comprises an electronic subsystem and an optical subsystem,

wherein the optical subsystem has N electro-optic modulators, which provide N optical signal components, where N is a number greater than 1,

wherein the electronic subsystem transforms a baseband signal by a Fourier transform or a discrete Fourier transform, into a frequency spectrum containing N digital coefficient signals, and provides on the basis of the N digital coefficient signals N analog coefficient signals, and

wherein the electro-optic modulators of the optical subsystem are each driven by one of the N analog coefficient signals, and

wherein the electronic subsystem comprises N digital-to-analog converters for providing the N analog coefficient signals.