Patent ID: 7627247

Claim:
A method of multiplexing optical signals in a node of an optical network including as inputs a plurality of electrical signals, a plurality of laser transmitters, and as outputs a plurality of optical fibers, comprising the steps of: (a) generating clock pulses at a first clock frequency; (b) dividing said clock pulses respectively into a number of trigger outputs carrying respective divided portions of said clock pulses at a second clock frequency equal to said first clock frequency divided by said number; (c) sampling the electrical signals respectively by triggering on said divided portions, thereby generating sampled electrical signals wherein sample durations of said sampled electrical signals are substantially equal to widths of said clock pulses; (d) converting said sampled electrical signals to sampled optical signals by modulating respectively the laser transmitters with said sampled electrical signals and outputting respectively said sampled optical signals on the optical fibers; and (e) combining said sampled optical signals onto a single optical fiber.