Patent ID: 7671771
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. A method for optical analog-to-digital conversion, comprising: sequentially sampling an optical analog signal; converting the optical analog signal into a string of first optical pulses; dividing the first optical pulses to be quantized, in accordance with a number of quantizing levels; sending each of the divided first optical pulses to each of a plurality of delay lines, respectively, so as to delay the divided first optical pulses in the delay lines by different delay times; transmitting each of the divided first optical pulses, which have been delayed in the delay lines, to each of a plurality of optical filters, respectively, the optical filters passing the divided first optical pulses with different transmittances; synthesizing each of the divided first optical pulses passed through each of the optical filters; sending a string of quantized second optical pulses when light intensities of the divided first optical pulses passed through the optical filters are above a preset threshold value; and performing binary conversion of the quantized second optical pulses.