Patent number: 9201287

Abstract: A photonic analog-to-digital converter is provided that includes a tunable light source, an optical sampling clock source, an optical splitter and a plurality of optical signal processing channels. The tunable light source produces an optical signal at a variable wavelength corresponding to analog levels of an electrical input signal. The optical sampling clock source produces an optical sampling clock signal that defines a sequence of sampling periods. The optical splitter is operably coupled to the tunable light source. The optical splitter splits the optical signal produced by the tunable light source for supply to the plurality of optical signal processing channels. Each one of the optical signal processing channels includes a photonic filter and corresponding optoelectronic thyristor comparator that is operably coupled to the optical sampling clock source.

Type: Grant

Filed: April 28, 2015

Date of Patent: December 1, 2015

Assignees: Opel Solar, Inc., The University of Connecticut

Inventor: Geoff W. Taylor