Patent ID: 7085500
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A programmable system for transmitting an arbitrary M-ary modulated optical signal comprising: a transmitter laser for providing a laser beam; an amplitude modulator for amplitude modulating the laser beam; an optical fiber for coupling the laser beam to the amplitude modulator; a phase modulator in series with the amplitude modulator for phase modulating the amplitude modulated laser beam; an optical fiber coupled between the amplitude modulator and the phase modulator; programmable constellation generating apparatus that is responsive to input data and a data modulator clock signal for programmably generating an arbitrary M-ary amplitude modulated and/or phase shift keyed constellation of data points that are input to the amplitude and phase modulator to amplitude and phase modulate the laser beam; and an electrical delay for synchronizing the arrival of the amplitude modulated light at the phase modulator with a signal from a phase angle portion of the constellation generating apparatus arriving at the phase modulator.