Patent ID: 7787719

Claim:
An optical data latch, comprising: a pair of optical logic gates, with each optical logic gate comprising a waveguide electroabsorption modulator which is electrically connected in series with a waveguide photodetector having at least one photodetector input, and with each optical logic gate having a modulator input wherein light is coupled into the waveguide electroabsorption modulator with the light which is transmitted through the waveguide electroabsorption modulator forming an output for that optical logic gate; and a plurality of optical waveguides to connect the pair of optical logic gates in a cross-coupled arrangement wherein the output of each optical logic gate of the pair of optical logic gates is optically connected to the at least one photodetector input of the other optical logic gate of the pair of optical logic gates to couple the light therebetween and thereby bi-stably latch the optical data latch to store a bit of optical information therein, and with the plurality of optical waveguides including an input waveguide to couple an optical input signal into the at least one photodetector input of each optical logic gate to set or reset the bit of optical information stored therein, and an output waveguide to couple the bit of optical information out of the optical data latch.