Patent ID: 7212140

Claim:
A system for quantizing a photonic signal, comprising: a photonic crystal for receiving the photonic signal; the photonic crystal having a periodic structure for directing the photonic signal through the photonic crystal; the periodic structure within the photonic crystal forming at least one splitter for separating the photonic signal into a first quantized photonic signal and a second quantized photonic signal; a first waveguide formed by the periodic structure within the photonic crystal for receiving the first quantized photonic signal from the at least one splitter, wherein the first waveguide is capable of providing a uniform delay for the first quantized photonic signal; a second waveguide formed by the periodic structure within the photonic signal for receiving the second quantized photonic signal form the at least one splitter, wherein the second waveguide is capable of providing a uniform delay for the second quantized photonic signal; a first optical detector for receiving the first quantized photonic signal from the first waveguide and for generating a first quantized electrical signal; and a second optical detector for receiving the second quantized photonic signal from the second waveguide and for generating a second quantized electrical signal.