Patent ID: 7605974

Claim:
An optical pulse position modulation receiver comprising: a semiconductor optical amplifier having an input receiving an optical pulse position modulated signal and receiving optical clock pulses; a filter apparatus receiving an output of said semiconductor optical amplifier, said filter apparatus suppressing optical clock pulses output by said semiconductor optical amplifier and passing an amplified optical pulse position modulated signal output by said semiconductor optical amplifier; and an optical to electric converter receiving said amplified optical pulse position modulated signal, wherein said optical clock pulses have an optical power at a level to reduce the stimulated emission transition of said semiconductor optical amplifier, wherein said optical clock pulses have a polarization different than a polarization of said optical pulse position modulated signal and the receiver further comprises: a first polarization coupler with a first input receiving said optical pulse position modulated signal and a second input receiving said optical clock pulses and having an output coupled to said semiconductor optical amplifier; and wherein the filter apparatus comprises: a second polarization coupler with an input receiving an output of said semiconductor optical amplifier, and having a first output configured to output optical signals having the polarization of said optical clock pulses and having a second output configured to couple optical signals having the polarization of said optical pulse position modulated signal to said optical to electric converter.