IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,133,190
Granted Patent B2
US 7,133,190 · App. 10/856,987 · Granted Nov 7, 2006

Optical frequency converter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,133,190
App. No.
10/856,987
Granted
Nov 7, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical frequency converter that can use a low-amplitude, high-frequency signal for converting a wide range of optical frequencies. The optical frequency converter includes a device for modulating a lightwave of a preset frequency with a modulation signal to generate a group of sidebands thereof, a device for selecting sidebands from among the group of sidebands, and a device for changing modulation signal frequencies and selecting specific sidebands.

Claims (42)

1. An optical frequency converter, comprising:

means for modulating light of predetermined frequency with a modulation signal to obtain a group of sidebands thereof;

means for selecting sidebands from among the group of sidebands;

reflecting means for folding an optical path in the optical frequency converter; and

means for changing frequency of the modulation signal and selecting a predetermined sideband.

2. An optical frequency converter according to claim 1 that includes one or more modulation means to at least one of which modulation means are input a group of different-order sidebands.

3. An optical frequency converter according to claim 2 that includes first reflecting means comprised of a laser light source and a first narrow-bandpass filter, and second reflecting means comprised of an optical modulator and a second narrow bandpass filter.

4. An optical frequency converter according to claim 3 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

5. An optical frequency converter according to claim 2 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

6. An optical frequency converter according to claim 1 that includes first reflecting means that transmits light of the predetermined frequency prior to modulation, and second reflecting means having a plurality of transmission bands.

7. An optical frequency converter according to claim 6 that includes first reflecting means comprised of a laser light source and a first narrow-bandpass filter, and second reflecting means comprised of an optical modulator and a second narrow bandpass filter.

8. An optical frequency converter according to claim 7 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

9. An optical frequency converter according to claim 6 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

10. An optical frequency converter according to claim 1 that includes first reflecting means comprised of a laser light source and a first narrow-bandpass filter, and second reflecting means comprised of an optical modulator and a second narrow bandpass filter.

11. An optical frequency converter according to claim 10 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

12. An optical frequency converter according to claim 1 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

13. An optical frequency converter, comprising:

means for modulating light of predetermined freciuency with a modulation signal to obtain a group of sidebands thereof;

means for selecting sidebands from among the group of sidebands;

first reflecting means comprised of a laser light source and a first narrow-bandpass filter;

second reflecting means comprised of an optical modulator and a second narrow-bandpass filter; and

means for changing freciuencv of the modulation signal and selecting a predetermined sideband.

14. An optical frequency converter according to claim 13 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

15. An optical frequency converter, comprising:

means for modulating light of predetermined frequency with a modulation signal to obtain a group of sidebands thereof;

means for selecting sidebands from among the group of sidebands;

first reflecting means comprised of a laser light source and a first narrow-bandpass filter;

second reflecting means comprised of an optical modulator and a second narrow-bandpass filter for folding an optical path in the optical frequency converter;

means for changing frequency of the modulation signal and selecting a predetermined sideband; and

one or more modulation means to at least one of which modulation means a group of different-order side bands are input.

16. An optical frequency converter according to claim 15 that further comprises means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

17. An optical frequency converter, comprising:

means for modulating light of predetermined freQuency with a modulation signal to obtain a group of sidebands thereof;

means for selecting sidebands from among the group of sidebands;

means for changing freQuency of the modulation signal and selecting a predetermined sideband; and

means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.

18. An optical frequency converter, comprising:

means for modulating light of predetermined freciuency with a modulation signal to obtain a group of sidebands thereof;

means for selecting sidebands from among the group of sidebands;

means for changing frequency of the modulation signal and selecting a predetermined sidebands;

one or more modulation means to at least one of which modulation means a group of different-order side bands are input; and

means for changing a length of an optical path of the optical frequency converter.