Patent ID: 6265999
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: H03M,H04L

Abstract:
An optical-to-electronic convertor, comprising:an input port, which receives an optical signal that is to be sampled;an optical sampler stage including at least one high-speed optical shutter, which samples the optical signal at a first sampling rate by opening and closing the at least one high-speed optical shutter and which provides a plurality of sampled optical signals as a result thereof, the optical sampler stage including a plurality of parallel channels, each different channel providing a different one of said plurality of sampled optical signals, the optical sampler stage including a splitter for splitting the optical signal into a plurality of identical optical signals prior to the sampling at the first sampling rate; andan electronic analog-to-digital converter stage, which converts the plurality of sampled output signals into a plurality of digital signals, the electronic analog-to-digital converter stage performing the converting at a second sampling rate slower than the first sampling rate.