Patent ID: 8103168

Claim:
A frequency translator comprising: a receiver configured to receive an input RF signal having a carrier frequency and amplitude information; an optical pulse transmitter configured to generate an optical pulse train having a plurality of optical pulses, wherein the optical pulse transmitter includes a multi-wavelength locked laser, and wherein the optical pulse train comprises a plurality of optical carrier signals having an associated plurality of wavelengths, each optical carrier signal corresponding to a different optical sample pulse repetition frequency; a first modulator configured to modulate the optical pulse train with the input RF signal to generate an output optical pulse train having the amplitude information of the input RF signal at a plurality of times corresponding to the plurality of optical pulses of the optical pulse train; a second modulator configured to modulate the output optical pulse train by a digital cosine function having a desired target frequency to generate a translated optical signal, wherein the second modulator comprises a demultiplexer for spatially separating the output optical pulse train corresponding to the plurality of optical carrier signals with the associated plurality of wavelengths; and a photodetector configured to receive the translated optical signal and to generate an electrical waveform with the amplitude information of the input RF signal centered at the desired target frequency.