Patent ID: 6118397
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G02F,H03M

Abstract:
An apparatus for converting an analog signal into a digital signal comprising:a converter which converts said analog signal into an optical signal which varies in wavelength in accordance with an amplitude of said analog signal;a splitter which applies said optical signal over a preselected number of light paths;an interferometer connected to each of said light paths which applies a complementary sinusoidal transfer function to said optical signal to generate two complimentary output signals; and,a balanced detector connected to each of said interferometers which generates a digital bit in response to said two complimentary output signals, said balanced detector comprises:first and second photodiodes connected in series in a balanced configuration which generate a resulting current in response to said complimentary output signals; and,an amplifier which generates said digital bit in response to said resulting current, wherein each of said digital bits are combined to form a parallel digital word.