High bandwidth demodulator system and method

1. A method of analysing an input signal, the method including the steps of:

(a) dividing a first input signal into first and second orthogonal signal polarization components;

(b) dividing a second input signal into first and second orthogonal local polarization components;

(c) mixing the first signal polarization component with the second local polarisation component to provide a resultant first mixed polarization component, wherein the first signal polarization component is orthogonal to the second local polarization component;

(d) mixing the second signal polarization component with the first local polarisation component to provide a resultant second mixed polarization component, wherein the second signal polarization component is orthogonal to the first local polarization component; and

(e) analysing the polarization state of the first and second mixed polarization components to determine the polarization or phase information in the input signal.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second input signal comprises a time delayed version of the first input signal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said input signal includes information encoded in a periodic signal and said time delay comprises substantially one signal period.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second input signal comprises a local oscillatory signal having a predetermined polarization.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (e) further includes the steps of:

(e1) splitting the power of the first mixed polarization component into at least a first and second mixed sub-signals;

(e2) delaying one orthogonal polarization component of the first sub-signal relative to the second component by pi/2 radians to produce a phase delayed first sub-signal; and

(e3) dividing the phase delayed first sub signal into orthogonal components and the second mixed sub-signal into orthogonal components.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (e) further includes the steps of:

(e1) delaying one orthogonal polarization component of a first sub-signal relative to the second component by pi/2 radians to produce a phase delayed first sub-signal; and

(e2) dividing the phase delayed first sub signal into orthogonal components and a second mixed sub-signal into orthogonal components.

7. An apparatus for analysing the polarization state of a first input signal, the apparatus including:

a polarization diversity element interconnected to said first input signal and a second input signal for separating orthogonal components of each into first and second orthogonal signal polarization components;

a first polarization splitting element for further splitting the first and second orthogonal signal components of each of the first and second orthogonal signal polarization components into further orthogonal subcomponents;

a polarization element for polarization aligning predetermined ones of said subcomponents; and

a polarization translation element for spatially aligning groups of polarization aligned sub-components to produce a series of spatially aligned subcomponents;

a second polarization splitting element for splitting the aligned subcomponents into output components.

8. An apparatus for analysis of the polarization information in an input signal, the apparatus including:

a polarization diversity element interconnected to said input signal and local oscillating signal for separating orthogonal components of the input signal and a predetermined second optical signal into first and second orthogonal signal components;

a first polarization splitting element for further splitting the first and second orthogonal signal components into further orthogonal subcomponents, and first and second orthogonal second optical signal components into further orthogonal subcomponents;

a polarization element for polarization aligning predetermined ones of said sub-components;

a polarization translation element for spatially aligning groups of polarization aligned sub-components to produce a series of spatially aligned subcomponents; and

a second polarization splitting element for splitting the aligned subcomponents into output components.

9. An apparatus for decoding polarization encoded input signals, the apparatus including:

a local oscillator outputting a local oscillating signal having a predetermined polarization state;

an input for inputting said polarization encoded input signal;

a polarization diversity element interconnected to said input signal and local oscillating signal for separating orthogonal components of each into first and second orthogonal signal polarization components and the said local oscillating signal into first and second orthogonal local signal components;

a first polarization splitting element for further splitting the first and second orthogonal signal components into further orthogonal subcomponents, and first and second orthogonal local signal components into further orthogonal subcomponents;

a polarization element for polarization aligning predetermined ones of said sub-components;

a polarization translation element for spatially aligning groups of polarization aligned sub-components to produce a series of spatially aligned subcomponents; and

a second polarization splitting element for splitting the aligned subcomponents into output components.

10. An apparatus for decoding polarization encoded input signals, the apparatus including:

an input for inputting said polarization encoded input signal;

a delay element for producing a delayed version of said input signal;

a polarization diversity element interconnected to said input signal and the delayed version of the input signal for separating orthogonal components of each into first and second orthogonal signal polarization components and the said delayed version of the input signal into first and second orthogonal delayed signal components;

a first polarization splitting element for further splitting the first and second orthogonal signal components into further orthogonal subcomponents, and first and second orthogonal delayed signal components into further orthogonal subcomponents;

a polarization element for polarization aligning predetermined ones of said sub-components;

a-polarization translation element for spatially aligning groups of polarization aligned sub-components to produce a series of spatially aligned subcomponents; and

a second polarization splitting element for splitting the aligned subcomponents into output components.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising: a polarization delay element interconnected between said polarization translation element and the second polarization splitting element, and adapted to delay one orthogonal subcomponent relative to another orthogonal component by π/4 radians.