Patent ID: 7199870
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
1. A single path, polarization independent arrangement for sampling an input optical signal waveform, the arrangement comprising a source of optical sampling pulses, the pulses exhibiting a predetermined pulse width; an optical coupler for combining the pulses generating by the source of optical sampling pulses and the input optical signal waveform and providing the combined signals onto a single output path; a polarization arrangement associated with the optical coupler for splitting each pulse of the optical sampling pulses into a pair of orthogonal components, separated in time by a known amount of differential group delay, the arrangement further imparting a similar differential group delay to the input optical signal waveform; a sampling gate coupled to the output of the polarization arrangement for allowing the orthogonal components of the optical sampling pulses to probe the corresponding portions of the input optical signal waveform so as to form a sampled output optical signal; and a detector coupled to the output of the sampling gate for recovering the sampled output optical signal and providing an electronic equivalent, the detector exhibiting an impulse response longer than the differential group delay so that the orthogonal components are combined within a single response period.