Patent ID: 8358931

Claim:
A timing system comprising: at least one semiconductor laser configured to issue subnanosecond optical pulses defining a periodic pulse train; an optical timing system through which the pulses propagate; an optoelectronic system coupled to the optical timing system such that the optoelectronic system generates an electronic timing signal based on propagation of the optical pulses through the optical timing system; a first optical waveguide coupled to the optical timing system, the first waveguide being configured to define a first time-quantifiable optical path for a pulse of the train; a second optical waveguide coupled to the optical timing system, the second waveguide being configured to define a second time-quantifiable optical path for a pulse of the train different from the first waveguide; and an optical switching system coupled to direct one of the pulses from the semiconductor laser through the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide depending on when another of the optical pulses emerges from the optical timing system.