Patent ID: 7142750

Claim:
An optical coincidence system for chopping, modulating, switching, multiplexing, demultiplexing and/or routing radiation pulses, the system comprising: at least one first input; at least one second input; at least one interference device; and at least one selecting device including a differential receiving terminal and at least one output, wherein said first input is arranged to receive signal radiation pulses having a first width and to direct each of said signal radiation pulses toward at least one signal radiation path; wherein said second input is arranged to receive control radiation pulses having a second width and to direct each of said control radiation pulses toward at least one control radiation path; wherein said interference device is arranged to receive, from said signal radiation path, said signal radiation pulses at signal arrival times in which said signal radiation pulses arrive at said interference device, and to receive, from said control radiation path, said control radiation pulses at control arrival times in which said control radiation pulses arrive at said interference device, and to produce an interference pattern which corresponds to said signal arrival times and control arrival times; wherein said selecting device is arranged to receive, at said differential receiving terminal, at least part of said interference pattern for selectively emitting output radiation pulses from said output according to said respective signal arrival times and control arrival times; and wherein at least one of said first input and said second input includes an adjustable optical delay; and wherein said signal arrival times and said control arrival times are adjusted, by said adjustable optical delay, to cause said signal radiation pulses and said control radiation pulses to partially coincide in time on said at least one interference device for producing said output radiation pulses having a width that is narrower than said first width and second width.