Patent ID: 6462865
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G02F,H01S

Abstract:
An optical OR gate comprising:first and second optical guides for receiving modulated optical signals as inputs to the optical OR gate; a junction, coupled to the first and second optical guides for combining modulated optical signals to produce a combined optical signal; and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), coupled to the junction to receive the combined optical signal, for restoring a power level of the combined optical signal to generate an output optical signal; wherein when both the first and second optical guides receive modulated optical signals at a high power level, the SOA receives a combined optical signal with a power of about double the high power level, the SOA generates the output optical signal with a power of about the high power level, while when either of the first and second optical guides receive modulated optical signals at a high power level, the SOA generates the output optical signal with a power of about the high power level, while when both of the first and second optical guides receive modulated optical signals at a low power level, the SOA generates the output optical signal with a power of about the low power level, whereby power levels are restored for the output optical signal which is a logical OR of the modulated optical signals on the fast and second optical guides.