Patent ID: 8068743
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: H01S,H04B

Abstract:
1. An optoelectronic timing system, comprising: at least one semiconductor laser configured to generate subnanosecond optical pulses; a trigger system coupled to the semiconductor laser so that the semiconductor laser generates an optical pulse in response to an optical pulse received by the trigger system; a regeneration waveguide coupled to directed optical pulses from the laser to the trigger system, wherein a length of the regeneration waveguide defines a first frequency at which the laser generates pulses of a pulse train; a first optical waveguide configured to define a first time-quantifiable optical path for a pulse of the train; a second optical waveguide configured to define a second time-quantifiable optical path for a pulse of the train; a first nodal point coupled to the first and second waveguides at which pulses of the train are directed into the first and second waveguides; and a second nodal point coupled to the first and second waveguides at which pulses directed into the first and second waveguides are recombined, wherein: the second time-quantifiable optical path differs from the first time-quantifiable optical path, such that each of the pulses coupled into the first and second waveguides at the first node results in a first pulse at the second node from the first optical waveguide and a second pulse at the second node from the second optical waveguide; and pulses arriving at the second node including the pulses from the first and second waveguides have a second frequency that is greater than the first frequency.